Yellow Flags of Early Child Development

“YELLOW FLAGS” OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT A “yellow flag” is an early warning of possible delays in a child’s development. Experts in sensory-motor, cognitive, social- emotional, and language development carefully identified the “yellow flags” listed below to help address concerns that early childhood professionals and parents may have about a child's development.

1. Check the activities listed in the box below. They are ”yellow flags” for children of any age. See steps in #2. It is a concern if a child at any age …  Often kicks, hits, throws, or does other harmful behavior toward other people, kids, pets or objects  Does the same action or behavior over and over for 10 minutes or more  Has constant need for everyday things to be done the same way each time  Has limited or no eye contact with others (kids or adults)  Has difficulty eating (chokes, gags, vomits, takes a long time to take a bottle)  Uses or moves only one side of body  Loses any skill

2. Find the age closest to the child’s age and read the activities and skills that are typical for that age. If a child is not doing just one of the age-related items, you should follow these steps:  Document and discuss your observations with the child’s family. EC professionals can call Birth to 3 Connections at 608-273-3232 ext. 317 or Dane County UW Extension at 608-224-3722 to get answers to their questions about talking with parents and working with children with special needs.  Encourage family/parents to contact Wisconsin First Steps Hotline 1-800-642-7837.  Follow up with the parents later.

From BIRTH TO 6 MONTHS, if a child at … This age Is Not doing this . . . 2 mos.….. Placing weight on flat feet when held in standing 3 mos..….. Using eyes to follow people or objects as they move 4 mos..….. Watching people's faces 4 mos..….. Holding head up on his/her own 5 mos..….. Smiling back when you smile 5 mos..….. Holding self up on forearms while on tummy 5 mos..….. Reaching for a toy 6 mos..….. Making sounds besides crying (i.e. cooing, ahhh, oooh) 6 mos.…... Responding to sounds (startle or turn) 6 mos..….. Turning head when name is called From 7 MONTHS TO ONE YEAR, if a child at… This age Is Not doing this . . . 7 mos..….. Rolling over 9 mos..….. Showing loving faces and other expressions when playing with you 9 mos..….. Repeating some sounds (baba, mama) 9 mos….... Sitting on the floor without support to play with toys 10 mos..... Crawling on hands and knees 12 mos..... Looking for a toy he/she saw you hide 12 mos….. Using toys in a variety of ways (driving cars, stacking blocks, pushing buttons) 12 mos….. Paying attention to someone talking 12 mos….. Calling or making noise to get attention 12 mos..... Holding two toys and banging them together From ONE YEAR - 18 MONTHS, if a child at … This age Is Not doing this . . . 15 mos….. Okay being around new people 15 mos..... Using gestures to get his/her need met (giving, showing, reaching, waving or pointing) 15 mos….. Pointing to at least one body part when asked 15 mos..... Pointing to show someone a toy or object that is interesting 15 mos..... Saying at least one word (mama, dada, ball) 15 mos..... Understanding simple phrases (don't touch, all gone) 15 mos..... Using thumb and index finger to pick up small object continued 15 mos..... Putting one shape into a shape sorter 18 mos..... Following simple directions (bring me your shoes, come here) 18 mos..... Imitating animal sounds and/or common words (moo like cow, milk, ball) 18 mos..... Imitating play of children and adults (building a block tower, moving a toy car) 18 mos..... Playing turn-taking activities (peek-a-boo, pat-a -cake, rolling a ball) 18 mos..... Trying to understand how toys work 18 mos..... Stacking 2 small blocks 18 mos..... Walking without help 18 mos..... Making marks with a crayon

From 19 MONTHS to TWO YEARS, if a child at … This age Is Not doing this . . . 21 mos..... Trying to use a fork or a spoon 21 mos..... Saying 10-15 words 21 mos..... Understanding 50 words 21 mos..... Finding hidden objects (inside or under other things) 24 mos..... Making choices using a gesture or a word 24 mos..... Using or imitating two word phrases (more juice, bye mom) 24 mos..... Finding and matching objects that are the same (books, cars, animals) 24 mos..... Doing pretend play with you with more than one action like feeding AND then putting the doll to sleep 24 mos..... Pointing to objects or pictures 24 mos..... Running 24 mos..... Understanding common dangers (touching hot stove, jumping off table) 24 mos..... Placing small objects in a small container 24 mos..... Using fingers to play with objects (blocks, pegs, puzzles)

From 25 MONTHS to THREE YEARS, if a child at This age Is Not doing this . . . 30 mos..... Copying adult actions (talking on a play phone, "dusting") 30 mos..... Jumping 30 mos..... Imitates drawing straight lines 30 mos..... Playing simple games with other children (Ring Around the Rosy) 30 mos..... Using more than 50 words 30 mos..... Walking up and down stairs without holding onto anything 36 mos..... Picking out one toy from a group of five (Where's your truck?) 36 mos..... Knowing size words (big, small) or "one" (one block) or location words (in, under, on)

From 37 MONTHS to FOUR YEARS, if a child at … This age Is Not doing this . . . 40 mos..... Trying to count, name shapes or colors 40 mos..... Using toys in a different way during play (block as a phone, chair as a train) 40 mos..... Sharing toys with other children 42 mos..... Answering who, what, where questions 42 mos..... Using 2-3 word sentences often (where is the ball? I want juice) 48 mos..... Talking about things that just happened (I fell down. I got an owie) 48 mos..... Using 4-6 word sentences (I'm stuck and I need help) 48 mos..... Speaking clearly enough so new people that s/he meets understand sentences 48 mos..... Using the potty ("potty trained")

Developmental information is a compilation done by professionals in Birth to 3 Connections (United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane County, WI) using their collective experience, professional expertise and training: Samantha Bakke, BSW Barbara Carter, PT Katherine Caulum, MS-CCC Susan Danner-Rivers, MSSW Kori Davis, BA-SW Gwen Engel, MS-CCC Tabitha Gehrmann, PT Anne Gergen, MS-CCC Margaret Hulne, MA-ECSE Heather Karlsson, MS-CCC Margaret Landreth BA-Psych. Suzanne Lienau, OTR Stephanie Mikesell, MS-CCC Melinda Rammer, MSSW Mary Randall, ECSE Angela Schmelzer, ECSE Deborah Thies, MSSW Jennifer Walston, BA-Psych Charlene Zabawski, MS-CCC

Distributed by: Dane County UW Extension & Birth to Three Connections (United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Dane Co)