HealthyPlusFeb15spreads - Flipbook - Page 21
Milestones matter
“The great news is that many of
the services we recommend are
available at no cost to the family.”
Trusting your instincts and
finding help for your child
W
– Jennie Moon
atching your baby grow and learn to do new things is an exciting time.
It also provides the chance to make sure your child's development is on
track.
While most babies and reach developmental
milestones around certain ages (see box, right),
some may take longer. In many instances, the
delay is simply that: a delay. But in other cases,
the delay may signal a bigger issue.
“The important thing for parents to realize is
that most developmental delays aren’t permanent,”
says Jennie Moon, program coordinator of
Children’s Integrated Services (CIS) Early
Intervention in Bennington. “Many children
just need a little extra attention and effort to
help them catch up with fine motor skills,
speech, or other things. The important thing
is to get the support they need as early as
possible. Intervention is most effective when
it’s done early and during the most critical
time of development.”
Getting the help your child needs
in a way that works for you
In a typical day, Moon and her colleagues
meet with 35 families, either in their
homes, at the CIS offices in downtown
Bennington, or even at local
coffee shops. “Wherever
works best for the family,”
says Moon.
“We currently work with
about 180 children ranging
from birth to age 3,” says
Moon. “Sometimes a worried
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mom or dad will call or we might get a call from
a family doctor asking us to assess how a child is
doing. As specialists in childhood development,
we look at how a child is doing in all aspects of
development. We do an initial hour-or-so long
assessment that covers speech, visual engagement,
play skills, hearing, and even lactation. From
that assessment, we make
recommendations on what
kind of intervention might
help the child progress.
The great news is that
many of the services we
recommend are available
at no cost to the family.”
Milestones to watch for
between 0-3 years
of age
child might need. We fill out
paperwork, coordinate rides,
assist with contacting local
resources for safety gates,
cabinet locks, and even a spare
tire if needed! The goal is to
give every child the best start
possible so that they can reach
their full potential.”
Moon adds, “If you have
questions about your child's
development, trust your
instincts; you know your child
best. Talk to your pediatrician
or reach out to CIS. Getting the
help your child needs is easier
than you realize and can make a
world of difference for the rest
of their life.” +
MENTAL
3 months: Turn their head towards bright color and lights, move both eyes in
HEALTH
the same direction together, recognize bottle or breast, react to sudden sounds
and voices, make cooing sounds, make fists with both hands, grasps toys or hair,
wiggle and kick arms and legs, lift head and chest when on stomach, smile
6 months: turn toward the source of normal sound, reach for objects and pick
them up, switch toys from one hand to the other, play with their toes, help hold
bottle during feeding, recognize familiar faces, babble
12 months: sit without support, pull to standing position, crawl, drink from a
cup, play peek-a-boo and patty cake, wave bye-bye, hold out arms and legs
while being dressed, put objects in a container, stack two blocks, use three or
more words consistently
18 months: like to push, pull, and dump things; follow simple directions; pull off
socks, shoes and mittens; like to look at pictures; feed themselves; make marks
on paper with crayons; walk without help; consistently uses seven or more true
single words
By 2 years: use 2–3-word sentences, say names of toys, recognize familiar
pictures, carry something while walking, feed themselves with spoon, play
independently, turn 2–3 pages at a time, imitate their parents, identify body
parts (hair, nose, ears, eyes) by pointing, stack four blocks, show affection
By 3 years: use 3–5-word sentences, put on shoes, walk upstairs alternating
feet, ride a tricycle, open doors, turn one page at a time, play with other
children for a few minutes, repeat common rhymes, name at least one color
correctly, are toilet trained
Caring that works for
the whole family
Even in the best of
circumstances, parenting
is hard work. “Which
is why,” says Moon,
“we do everything we
can to make it easy for
parents to access the
services their
Assessments & Support
Contact CIS Intake Coordinator Kelly Belville
at Sunrise Family Resource Center to learn more
about services including developmental screenings,
specialized childcare, early intervention, nursing,
early childhood mental health, and family support.
Towns serviced include Arlington, Bennington,
Bondville, Dorset, Landgrove, Manchester, North
Bennington, Peru, Pownal, Readsboro, Rupert,
Sandgate, Searsburg, Shaftsbury, Stamford,
Sunderland, Winhall, and Woodford.
802-442-6934; sunrisepcc.com
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