As your little one approaches their 2nd birthday, like most parents you may be curious about their growth, learning and development. To ensure your child is developing as expected and meeting their developmental milestones, many health professionals and early years educators screen your child against the Ages and Stages Questionnaire.
Let’s take a closer look at how this questionnaire can help you check your child is on the right track with their development.
What is the Ages and Stages Questionnaire?
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire is a comprehensive developmental screening tool designed to assess children’s skills across 5 key areas: Communication, Gross Motor skills, Fine Motor skills, Problem-Solving, and Personal-Social development.
As parents you are asked to complete the questionnaire before your child’s 2-year development check.
Remember you know your child best, so are best placed to highlight their abilities, skills and behaviours. It is important to be honest as your responses will help evaluate their current developmental milestones. There are not right or wrong answers – it’s all about understanding your child’s unique journey.
The Importance of 2-Year Development Checks
By the age of 2, your child will have experienced significant developmental changes. These years are crucial for building a strong foundation for your child’s future learning and development.
1. Identify Strengths: By answering the questions related to your child’s abilities, you will be able to pinpoint the areas where your child is achieving and thriving. You should praise your child in these areas and support them to develop further to excel.
2. Recognise Areas for Improvement: Equally the questionnaire will allow you to identify areas where your child may need extra help or attention. Try not to put pressure on your child but work together doing fun activities to build their abilities in these areas that need improving. If you do need extra support, we offer Early Years Tutoring which can support building those early skills.
3. Monitor Progress: The questionnaire is a great tool to monitor your child’s progress as it provides you with a snapshot of your child’s development at the 2-year mark. This enables you to look back and track their growth as they develop.
4. Early Intervention: Your Health professional will use the questionnaire and your feedback to determine any potential delays your child may be experiencing which requires professional input. Early Intervention is key with child development, so recognising potential issues can get your child the right support early on.
5. Be Actively Engaged: Taking the time to complete the questionnaire encourages us as parents and carers to be actively involved in our child’s development. It is a wonderful way to engage with your child and support their growth and development. Although the questionnaire may seem long, try and wnjoy the process of completing it with your child.
Remember to take the completed questionnaire and your ‘red book’ – your child’s personal chid health record along to your 2-year development check, where your health professional will talk you through it and interpret the results. It’s all about working together to provide the best start in life for your little one. Remember, every child is unique so it’s not about comparing children but celebrating their growth and giving them the best support to thrive!
