by Sarah Sharpe
Children can experience many different hiccups in their development. Here is a list of all the symptoms and behaviours I am able to assist children and their parents with:
Social skills:
- not knowing how to join social groups; awkwardly trying to engage with other children, displaying strange and awkward behaviour
- inability asking others to play; needing an adult to help them ask other children to play with them
- lack interest in other people; not noticing other people, no special awareness, only seeing people as tools to help manipulate environment (ie. only asking about items or activities that the child needs help with)
- age appropriate skills; child seems behind in social skills for their age (ie. playing with cause and effect toys when the child should be doing imaginative play)
Anxiety:
- fear of the unknown; new people, activities, areas, etc.
- fear of being alone; child does not like being away from the parent or caregiver
- fear of the dark, animals, etc (irrational and non-age appropriate)
- performance issues; fear of presenting at school, playing in tournaments, competitions
Lack of focus:
- inattention to detail
- not completing all steps of instructions; homework, routines, etc
- missing parts of conversations, misinterpreting interactions
Depression symptoms:
- lack of energy
- decreased desire in previously enjoyed activities (ie. quitting sports that were once a loved activity)
- decreased interactions with friends and family (ie. isolating self more than usual)
- helping caregivers to understand signs of depression
Inappropriate behaviours:
- aggression: hitting, spitting, yelling, biting, throwing items
- inappropriate requesting: yelling, grabbing, one word when capable of more
- inappropriate attention seeking behaviours; pushing, grabbing, destroying items, hurting others, etc.
- avoiding tasks; flopping on the floor, changing the subject, negotiation, etc.
Transitioning through different stages of development:
- toddler to childhood
- childhood to teen years
- teen years to young adult
Sleep Issues:
- (sleep affects all aspects of daily life; focus, learning and retention, emotional regulation, memory, etc.)
Emotional regulation:
- frequent and inexplicable emotional changes
- low tolerance (ie. becoming upset over ‘small things’)
non-compliance:
- not listening or following directions(ignoring caregiver)
- arguing
- attempts at compromise
- doing opposite of what was requested