How to recognise early indicators and what steps parents can take next

As a parent, one of the best things about watching your child grow up is seeing them come home from school or kindergarten with a big smile on their face. It helps you relax, knowing your child had a great time even when you weren’t around. Good memories formed at a young age in learning environments often stay with us long into adulthood.

Unfortunately, this may not be the case for every family. There may be times when parents hear feedback from a teacher or educator that their child may need extra support to participate more effectively at school. Parents may not know where to begin. It can be confusing and even overwhelming. Here are some tips to start with.

No one knows a child better than their parents. The first step may be to review some developmental milestones to see where a child is positioned compared with their peers. Developmental milestones are benchmarks that describe what a child is typically able to do at a certain age. These milestones usually cover areas such as fine motor skills, gross motor skills, language, and social development. They are based on extensive research and provide a comprehensive insight into what children are generally able to do as they grow. This allows parents to see how their child is progressing alongside peers of the same biological age. You can explore an evidence-based list in the Australian Government’s Developmental Milestones Guide (ACECQA).
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-02/DevelopmentalMilestonesEYLFandNQS.pdf

Apart from a child’s developmental abilities, there are other areas that parents should be mindful of. These are fundamental functions that help a child succeed in everyday activities. We all rely on these skills—even as adults—though we often stop noticing them because we operate in “auto-pilot” mode. These skills include, but are not limited to:

Attention span
Can your child stay engaged during activities? Do they get easily distracted or overwhelmed?
Executive functioning
Skills like following routines, remembering instructions, planning tasks, and managing emotions.
Sensory processing skills
Children may be sensitive to noise, touch, movement, or bright lights—or they may constantly seek extra movement or pressure to feel comfortable.

It is always helpful to understand a child from a parent’s perspective. However, communication between parents and the school or kindergarten is essential for supporting a child’s engagement. Educators often have the knowledge and experience to identify what pieces might be missing in the puzzle. Working as a team is the most effective way to achieve positive outcomes. Sometimes, a small strategy can make a significant difference. Team power unlock the true power.

If the above steps do not provide enough support to help your child feel comfortable and included in a learning environment, seeking additional advice from a GP or paediatrician may be the next step. With a strong team working together, you will be able to offer useful information to help medical professionals better understand the situation and provide solid guidance on what to do next.