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Wait and see, or take action?
Some developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), can become apparent at a very young age. It is therefore important to pay attention to any concerns about your child’s development, especially when they are still young. For young children, relatively light-touch support is often enough to have a positive impact on their development.
Developmental problem or not?
There are average ages at which most children can do certain things (see: overall development of children). At the same time, each child is unique, and each child develops at their own pace. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether developmental problems will resolve themselves, or whether help is needed to spur development.
Often parents, as well as professionals, are inclined to wait and see. This can be appropriate, because children can indeed suddenly have a spurt in their development. In that case, problems turn out to be temporary. But sometimes, by waiting, precious time is unintentionally lost and problems increase. Whereas for young children, relatively light-touch support is often enough to positively influence their development.
Why should you take action early?
There are three key reasons why it is important to take action at the first signs of problems in your child’s development:
- Young children learn quickly
The brains of young children (especially those under 3) are more flexible than those of older children or adults. Young children therefore learn new skills more easily. - Areas of development are closely interconnected
During the first four years of life, children develop rapidly across several areas at the same time. They develop motor, emotional, cognitive, social, language and speech skills. These areas of development are closely interconnected. New skills in one area can also influence development in another. For example, learning to walk is a motor milestone, but it can also support cognitive development. As your child becomes more mobile, their world becomes bigger, allowing them to explore and discover more. Conversely, difficulties in one area of development can also have a negative impact on other areas.Example
If your toddler has difficulty crawling or gripping things, he or she experiences the world differently than a child who moves around with ease. This also immediately affects the development of understanding (cognition). Because by moving around and grabbing things, children get to know, for example, the difference between hard and soft or hot and cold. They learn about shapes, structures and how things feel. When children touch things, parents often tell them what it is: "That's the heater. it's warm." Or: "Whoa, that pillow is nice and soft, isn't it?". If your child explores less, you as a parent also have less reason to name new things. So in this way, the motor 'problem' can also affect a child's understanding of the world and their language development. - You and your child influence each other
Children can react sensitively to tensions within a family. Additionally, developmental problems in a child can create uncertainty and tension for the parents. You may then feel powerless in the interaction with your child. This way, problems in the relationship between parents and child can arise, or be reinforced.
What action can be taken if your child has (suspected) autism?
So, it can be important to take action if you think your child is developing differently frpm other children and/or if you suspect that your child may have autism. You can follow the steps below to help you decide what to do next:
