Day Care Experts on Delayed Child Development
Developments, such as physical, emotional, social, and cognitive, occur throughout the lifespan of a human being. These developments occur independently at times while going hand in hand sometimes. However, in some young children, some of these developments take place a little late.
In this post, our psychologists and expert educators at Little Wings Preschool, one of the best day care centre in South Bopal, Ahmedabad, share why this kind of delayed development happens in a child, and how to resolve it.
Developmental Delay!
According to data, developmental delay is very common in childhood, as it occurs in 10% to 15% of preschool children. But what exactly is it?
When young children are comparatively slower to develop physical, emotional, social, and communication skills than is expected, it’s called developmental delay. These skills may be as basic as taking the first step or learning how to wave a good bye. These delays show up in the way children communicate, think and learn, move or even play with others. And when a child shows delay in more than two areas of development, it is known as global developmental delay.
Is developmental delay & developmental disability the same?
Developmental delay is short term but sometimes it might be the first sign of a lifelong problem. Long-term developmental delays are known as developmental disabilities. Learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, all the above fall under developmental disabilities.
Children can outgrow or catch up on developmental delays. However, developmental disabilities are lifelong, although people can still overcome these disabilities later in life and thrive. Conditions that can cause developmental disabilities include Down syndrome, autism, foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and brain injuries.
Sometimes it’s hard to determine if a young child has a developmental delay or a disability. Even when it’s not clear about what’s causing the delay, early intervention can often help children catch up.
The causes…
Some developmental delays have an identifiable cause. But in many cases, the cause is not clear. Factors that may lead to short-term developmental delays in children include physical illness, long periods in hospital, genetic or hereditary conditions like Down syndrome, any serious infections, food deprivation etc. These can occur before a child is born, during the birthing process, and after birth as well. Exposure to certain toxic substances like prenatal alcohol exposure or premature birth can also be a cause.
The types…
1) Cognitive delay or delay in learning
Cognitive skills are skills used by the brain to think, read, learn, solve problems, and remember. A delay in cognitive skills may affect a child’s intellectual functioning, and that can cause learning difficulties at school and otherwise. This is why Little Wings, the best day care centre in South Bopal, Ahmedabad, has experts on campus to help children facing any such issues.
