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  3. Developmentally Delayed Pre-K
  4. When to Seek Help

When to Seek Help

Text reads 'Developmentally Delayed Pre-K' with a schoolhouse icon.

When to Seek Help

Children develop at their own pace, so it's impossible to tell exactly when your child will learn a given skill. Below are signs of a possible developmental delay. Alert your child's doctor or nurse if your child displays any of the following signs of possible developmental delay for their age range. Orange County Public Schools Preschool Diagnostic Intervention Services provides free developmental screenings should you have concerns about your child's developmental skills.

    • Cannot walk by 18 months
    • Fails to develop a mature heel-toe walking pattern after several months of walking, or walks only on his toes
    • Does not speak at least 15 words
    • Does not use two-word sentences by age 2
    • By 15 months, does not seem to know the function of common household objects (brush, telephone, bell, fork, spoon)
    • Does not imitate actions or words by the end of this period
    • Does not follow simple instructions by age 2
    • Cannot push a wheeled toy by age 2
    • Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once had

    • Frequent falling and difficulty with stairs
    • Persistent drooling or very unclear speech
    • Cannot build a tower of more than four blocks
    • Difficulty manipulating small objects
    • Cannot copy a circle by age 3
    • Cannot communicate in short phrases
    • No involvement in "pretend" play
    • Does not understand simple instructions
    • Little interest in other children
    • Extreme difficulty separating from mother or primary caregiver
    • Poor eye contact
    • Limited interest in toys
    • Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once

    • Cannot throw a ball overhand
    • Cannot jump in place
    • Cannot ride a tricycle
    • Cannot grasp a crayon between thumb and fingers
    • Has difficulty scribbling
    • Cannot stack four blocks
    • Still clings or cries whenever parents leave
    • Shows no interest in interactive games
    • Ignores other children
    • Doesn't respond to people outside the family
    • Doesn't engage in fantasy play
    • Resists dressing, sleeping, using the toilet
    • Lashes out without any self-control when angry or upset
    • Cannot copy a circle
    • Doesn't use sentences of more than three words
    • Doesn't use "me" and "you" correctly
    • Experiences a dramatic loss of skills he or she once