Here are some red flags that you may want to get an appointment with a professional to assess your child.
Gross Motor
If a child is...
Not rolling by 7 months of age
Not pushing up on straight arms, lifting his head and shoulders, by 8 months of age
Not sitting independently by 10 months of age
Not crawling ("commando" crawling--moving across the floor on his belly) by 10 months of age
Not creeping (on all fours, what is typically called "crawling") by 12 months of age
Not sitting upright in a child-sized chair by 12 months of age
Not pulling to stand by 12 months of age
Not standing alone by 14 months of age
Not walking by 18 months of age
Not jumping by 30 months of age
Not independent on stairs (up and down) by 30 months of age
Here are some other gross motor "red flags":
"walking" their hands up their bodies to achieve a standing position
only walking on their toes, not the soles of their feet
frequently falling/tripping, for no apparent reason
still "toeing in" at two years of age
unusual creeping patterns
any known medical diagnosis can be considered a "red flag": Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, congenital heart condition etc.
Fine Motor
If a child is...
Frequently in a fisted position with both hands after 6 months of age
Not bringing both hands to midline (center of body) by 10 months of age
Not banging objects together by 10 months of age
Not clapping their hands by 12 months of age
Not deliberately and immediately releasing objects by 12 months of age
Not able to tip and hold their bottle by themselves and keep it up, without lying down, by 12 months of age
Still using a fisted grasp to hold a crayon at 18 months of age
Not using a mature pincer grasp (thumb and index finger, pad to pad) by 18 months of age
Not imitating a drawing of a vertical line by 24 months of age
Not able to snip with scissors by 30 months
Here are some other fine motor "red flags":
Using only one hand to complete tasks
Not being able to move/open one hand/arm
Drooling during small tasks that require intense concentration
Displaying uncoordinated or jerky movements when doing activities
Crayon strokes are either too heavy or too light to see
Any know medical diagnosis can be considered a "red flag": Down's Syndrome, cerebral palsy etc.
Cognition/Problem Solving
If a child is...
Not imitating body action on a doll by 15 months of age (ie, kiss the baby, feed the baby)
Not able to match two sets of objects by item by 27 months of age (ie, blocks in one container and people in another)
Not able to imitate a model from memory by 27 months (ie, show me how you brush your teeth)
Not able to match two sets of objects by color by 31 months of age
Having difficulty problem solving during activities in comparison to his/her peers
Unaware of changes in his/her environment and routine
Sensory
If a child is...
Very busy, always on the go, and has a very short attention to task
Often lethargic or low arousal (appears to be tired/slow to respond, all the time, even after a nap)
A picky eater
Not aware of when they get hurt (no crying, startle, or reaction to injury)
Afraid of swinging/movement activities; does not like to be picked up or be upside down
Showing difficulty learning new activities (motor planning)
Having a hard time calming themselves down appropriately
Appearing to be constantly moving around, even while sitting
Showing poor or no eye contact
Frequently jumping and/or purposely falling to the floor/crashing into things
Seeking opportunities to fall without regard to his/her safety or that of others
Constantly touching everything they see, including other children
Hypotonic (floppy body, like a wet noodle)
Having a difficult time with transitions between activity or location
Overly upset with change in routine
Hates bath time or grooming activities such as; tooth brushing, hair brushing, hair cuts, having nails cut, etc.
Afraid of/aversive to/avoids being messy, or touching different textures such as grass, sand, carpet, paint, playdoh, etc.
NOTE: sensory integration/sensory processing issues should only be diagnosed by a qualified professional (primarily, occupational therapists and physical therapists). Some behaviors that appear to be related to sensory issues are actually behavioral issues independent of sensory needs. See my post titled 'Super Sensational' to see more about SPD.
Possible visual problems may exist if the child...
Does not make eye contact with others or holds objects closer than 3-4 inches from one or both eyes
Does not reach for an object close by
Possible hearing problems may exist if the child...
Does not respond to sounds or to the voices of familiar people
Does not attend to bells or other sound-producing objects
Does not respond appropriately to different levels of sound
Does not babble
Self-Care
If a child is...
Having difficulty biting or chewing food during mealtime
Needing a prolonged period of time to chew and/or swallow
Coughing/choking during or after eating on a regular basis
Demonstrating a change in vocal quality during/after eating (i.e. they sound gurgled or hoarse when speaking/making sounds)
Having significant difficulty transitioning between different food stages
Not feeding him/herself finger foods by 14 months of age
Not attempting to use a spoon by 15 months of age
Not picking up and drinking from a regular open cup by 15 months of age
Not able to pull off hat, socks or mittens on request by 15 months of age
Not attempting to wash own hands or face by 19 months
Not assisting with dressing tasks (excluding clothes fasteners) by 22 months
Not able to deliberately undo large buttons, snaps and shoelaces by 34 months
Social/Emotional/Play Skills
If a child is...
Not smiling by 4 months
Not making eye contact during activities and interacting with peers and/or adults
Not performing for social attention by 12 months
Not imitating actions and movements by the age of 24 months
Not engaging in pretend play by the age of 24 months
Not demonstrating appropriate play with an object (i.e. instead of trying to put objects into a container, the child leaves the objects in the container and keeps flicking them with his fingers)
Fixating on objects that spin or turn (i.e. See 'n Say, toy cars, etc.); also children who are trying to spin things that are not normally spun
Having significant difficulty attending to tasks
Getting overly upset with change or transitions from activity to activity
Not rolling by 7 months of age
Not pushing up on straight arms, lifting his head and shoulders, by 8 months of age
Not sitting independently by 10 months of age
Not crawling ("commando" crawling--moving across the floor on his belly) by 10 months of age
Not creeping (on all fours, what is typically called "crawling") by 12 months of age
Not sitting upright in a child-sized chair by 12 months of age
Not pulling to stand by 12 months of age
Not standing alone by 14 months of age
Not walking by 18 months of age
Not jumping by 30 months of age
Not independent on stairs (up and down) by 30 months of age
Here are some other gross motor "red flags":
"walking" their hands up their bodies to achieve a standing position
only walking on their toes, not the soles of their feet
frequently falling/tripping, for no apparent reason
still "toeing in" at two years of age
unusual creeping patterns
any known medical diagnosis can be considered a "red flag": Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, congenital heart condition etc.
Fine Motor
If a child is...
Frequently in a fisted position with both hands after 6 months of age
Not bringing both hands to midline (center of body) by 10 months of age
Not banging objects together by 10 months of age
Not clapping their hands by 12 months of age
Not deliberately and immediately releasing objects by 12 months of age
Not able to tip and hold their bottle by themselves and keep it up, without lying down, by 12 months of age
Still using a fisted grasp to hold a crayon at 18 months of age
Not using a mature pincer grasp (thumb and index finger, pad to pad) by 18 months of age
Not imitating a drawing of a vertical line by 24 months of age
Not able to snip with scissors by 30 months
Here are some other fine motor "red flags":
Using only one hand to complete tasks
Not being able to move/open one hand/arm
Drooling during small tasks that require intense concentration
Displaying uncoordinated or jerky movements when doing activities
Crayon strokes are either too heavy or too light to see
Any know medical diagnosis can be considered a "red flag": Down's Syndrome, cerebral palsy etc.
Cognition/Problem Solving
If a child is...
Not imitating body action on a doll by 15 months of age (ie, kiss the baby, feed the baby)
Not able to match two sets of objects by item by 27 months of age (ie, blocks in one container and people in another)
Not able to imitate a model from memory by 27 months (ie, show me how you brush your teeth)
Not able to match two sets of objects by color by 31 months of age
Having difficulty problem solving during activities in comparison to his/her peers
Unaware of changes in his/her environment and routine
Sensory
If a child is...
Very busy, always on the go, and has a very short attention to task
Often lethargic or low arousal (appears to be tired/slow to respond, all the time, even after a nap)
A picky eater
Not aware of when they get hurt (no crying, startle, or reaction to injury)
Afraid of swinging/movement activities; does not like to be picked up or be upside down
Showing difficulty learning new activities (motor planning)
Having a hard time calming themselves down appropriately
Appearing to be constantly moving around, even while sitting
Showing poor or no eye contact
Frequently jumping and/or purposely falling to the floor/crashing into things
Seeking opportunities to fall without regard to his/her safety or that of others
Constantly touching everything they see, including other children
Hypotonic (floppy body, like a wet noodle)
Having a difficult time with transitions between activity or location
Overly upset with change in routine
Hates bath time or grooming activities such as; tooth brushing, hair brushing, hair cuts, having nails cut, etc.
Afraid of/aversive to/avoids being messy, or touching different textures such as grass, sand, carpet, paint, playdoh, etc.
NOTE: sensory integration/sensory processing issues should only be diagnosed by a qualified professional (primarily, occupational therapists and physical therapists). Some behaviors that appear to be related to sensory issues are actually behavioral issues independent of sensory needs. See my post titled 'Super Sensational' to see more about SPD.
Possible visual problems may exist if the child...
Does not make eye contact with others or holds objects closer than 3-4 inches from one or both eyes
Does not reach for an object close by
Possible hearing problems may exist if the child...
Does not respond to sounds or to the voices of familiar people
Does not attend to bells or other sound-producing objects
Does not respond appropriately to different levels of sound
Does not babble
Self-Care
If a child is...
Having difficulty biting or chewing food during mealtime
Needing a prolonged period of time to chew and/or swallow
Coughing/choking during or after eating on a regular basis
Demonstrating a change in vocal quality during/after eating (i.e. they sound gurgled or hoarse when speaking/making sounds)
Having significant difficulty transitioning between different food stages
Not feeding him/herself finger foods by 14 months of age
Not attempting to use a spoon by 15 months of age
Not picking up and drinking from a regular open cup by 15 months of age
Not able to pull off hat, socks or mittens on request by 15 months of age
Not attempting to wash own hands or face by 19 months
Not assisting with dressing tasks (excluding clothes fasteners) by 22 months
Not able to deliberately undo large buttons, snaps and shoelaces by 34 months
Social/Emotional/Play Skills
If a child is...
Not smiling by 4 months
Not making eye contact during activities and interacting with peers and/or adults
Not performing for social attention by 12 months
Not imitating actions and movements by the age of 24 months
Not engaging in pretend play by the age of 24 months
Not demonstrating appropriate play with an object (i.e. instead of trying to put objects into a container, the child leaves the objects in the container and keeps flicking them with his fingers)
Fixating on objects that spin or turn (i.e. See 'n Say, toy cars, etc.); also children who are trying to spin things that are not normally spun
Having significant difficulty attending to tasks
Getting overly upset with change or transitions from activity to activity
