Quick answer
What is developmental assessment?
A developmental assessment is a structured review of how a child is progressing in movement, speech and language, social and emotional skills, and thinking and learning compared with what is typical for their age. It combines parent observations with examination and play-based observation to identify children who would benefit from support.
What developmental areas are reviewed?
Children develop at different speeds, and a wide range is normal. An assessment looks at the overall pattern across several areas rather than a single milestone.
The purpose is practical: to reassure parents when development is on track, and to identify early when a child may benefit from closer monitoring, therapy or further evaluation.
When should parents discuss developmental concerns?
- Your child is not doing things that most children of the same age do
- Your child has lost a skill they previously had
- Speech seems delayed or difficult to understand for their age
- Limited eye contact, response to name or interest in other people
- Stiffness, floppiness or a strong preference for one side of the body
- A teacher or caregiver has raised a concern
- Your child was born early or needed newborn intensive care
Areas covered in a developmental assessment
- Gross motor
- Head control, sitting, crawling, walking, running and balance.
- Fine motor
- Grasping, using both hands, stacking, drawing and self-feeding.
- Speech and language
- Understanding, babbling, first words, sentences and clarity.
- Social and emotional
- Eye contact, smiling, play, sharing attention and relating to others.
- Learning and behaviour
- Attention, problem-solving, play skills and everyday routines.
How GROW approaches developmental concerns
Parents usually notice differences first, and their observations are taken seriously. The pediatrician listens to what you have seen at home before observing the child directly.
Findings are explained without labels being rushed. Where support is likely to help, the pediatrician outlines what kind, such as speech therapy or occupational therapy, and coordinates referral for further evaluation when it is needed.
What happens during a developmental consultation?
Your observations
What you have noticed, when you first noticed it and what your child does well.
Background
Pregnancy, birth, early health, family history, hearing and vision.
Observation and play
The pediatrician watches how your child moves, plays, communicates and responds.
Examination
A physical and neurological examination, with growth measurements.
Discussion
What the findings suggest, what to do at home and whether further evaluation or therapy is advised.
Age groups
Infants, toddlers, preschool and school-age children. Earlier assessment is generally more useful than waiting.
What to bring
- Short videos of your child at home, especially of anything that concerns you
- Notes on when key milestones were reached
- Birth and newborn records
- School or playgroup feedback and any earlier assessment reports
When to seek urgent medical care
Do not wait for a routine appointment if your child has any of the following:
- Loss of skills your child had already gained
- Seizures, repeated staring spells or sudden jerking movements
- Sudden weakness, a change in walking or a new squint
Go to the nearest emergency department or call your local emergency number.
Developmental Assessment: frequently asked questions
What is developmental assessment?
It is a structured review of a child's progress in movement, speech and language, social skills and learning, compared with what is typical for their age, to decide whether reassurance, monitoring or support is appropriate.
What developmental areas are usually reviewed?
Gross motor skills, fine motor skills, speech and language, social and emotional development, and learning and behaviour.
When should parents discuss developmental concerns?
As soon as you have a concern. You do not need to wait for a particular age. A child who is not doing what most children of the same age do, or who has lost a skill, should be reviewed.
What happens during a developmental consultation?
The pediatrician discusses your observations and your child's history, observes your child at play, performs an examination and then explains the findings and the recommended next steps.
Who treats developmental concerns in children?
A pediatrician is the first point of contact. Depending on the findings, care may also involve therapists such as speech or occupational therapists, and specialists such as a developmental pediatrician or pediatric neurologist.
Further reading
General guidance on this page is consistent with information published by:
