Early Intervention for Kids Aged 4 to 6 – How to Know When it’s Needed
Starting daycare, kindy or pre-primary / prep is a big milestone for you and your child. It’s often the first time your child has been in the care of someone who’s not a relative or friend, and the start of their educational journey.
It’s natural for parents to want their kid to fit in and to keep pace with the new routines and challenges that come with the pre-school years. If you or your teacher / educator have observed that your little one is having some bigger than usual challenges, it may be hard to hear at first. In many cases though, these early challenges can be signals that point to help that can make a world of difference in preparing your child for primary school and beyond.
So what are the things you might see that suggest a little help is needed?
Big emotions: Little kids are still learning how to express their emotions, follow routines, and make friends – it’s tiring stuff! It’s common to see some crying or tantrums that are often out of frustration or tiredness. If you have a sense though that emotions are running a little higher than normal or changing, such as more frequent or longer tantrums, it’s worth chatting with your kindy teacher, child health nurse or GP as a first step.
Delayed speech or communication: Kids are building their vocabulary and communication skills all the time, and this tends to ramp up in pre-school settings. If though your child was on the quieter side compared to peers at around age 3 and you’re still seeing a little less chatter, it may be worth exploring this – again, first with your kindy or day care teacher, child health nurse or GP. Your teacher in particular will likely have observed your child in scenarios that you don’t see all the time - you might be surprised to hear they are very chatty with a paint brush in hand at kindy!
Separation anxiety: You’ve seen it or experienced it at drop off guaranteed – a kid glued to a leg and crying. It’s really hard. And this is one of the most common areas where daycare, kindy and school teachers support parents with strategies to help (usually a clear kiss goodbye, a “see you after lunch” and a calm exit – often easier said than done). If though you feel it’s more challenging than this or if you see apprehension in other ways (maybe if you’re out of sight at home or when you’re at work) it could be reason to seek some support.
Repetitive behaviours: Kindy and daycare will likely be like the best toy shop in the world when your little one starts! With new and exciting toys , activities and friends on tap, you’ll have a new window into what your kid is drawn to. Do they gravitate towards certain types of toys (trucks and cars anyone??), do they play with lots of different things (dress ups, sandpit toys, dolls in prams), or do they stick with their faves? Again, your educator has observed hundreds (sometimes thousands) of kids at play over their career and is tuned in to cues that suggest help might be needed eg being unable to change tasks before certain things are done, or strong fixations on one activity or toy.
Struggling with instructions: There are so many new routines at kindy and pre-school! This all takes time for kids to learn. If though after the first half of the year your little one is having a hard time with some of those early tasks or routines, such as getting their lunchbox out, hand washing or toileting, it may be useful to chat with someone to establish some strategies for support. Support may be as simple as you mirroring some of the routines at home for practice.
These are just a few of the things many kids are challenged with in the pre-school years. If any of these behaviours are making it hard for your child to enjoy kindy though, it might be time to explore some gentle support.
Why seek help earlier?
Early intervention is really about giving your child a head start (not fixing broken things). Working with a child psychologist can help your child with building skills to manage emotions, connect with others, and feel more confident with new activities and environments. It’s also a tremendous support to parents – when you’re comfortable and confident with how to support your child, you’ll be the best possible support.
My child is so little – how would seeing a child psychologist work?
It’s probably not too different to your child interacting with their kindy teacher! If you decide to reach out to a child psychologist, the process is gentle and kid-friendly. If you’re to see us, it would mean:
1. Parent chat: We’ll meet to chat about your child’s behaviour, development, and any concerns on your mind. We’ll want to know about your child’s strengths and what makes them unique.
2. Play-based assessment / collaboration: With your permission, we might chat with your kindy teacher or drop by to observe your child at play. Or you might come by for a session at our South Perth rooms.
3. Interactive sessions: These are always playful and creative (it’s a fun job!). We’ll probably be sitting on the floor (or at least at a little table) and using toys, stories, or games to help your child communicate and to get a better understanding for how they think, feel, and interact.
4. Parent guidance: A debrief at the end of session to share some straightforward tools to support your child at home.
Final Thoughts for Parents
It’s natural to worry or wonder if your child is doing well and progressing. It’s also important to remember that you’re not alone, and seeking help early if you’re not sure doesn’t mean you’ve failed – it’s probably the best thing you can do for your kid.
If you’re unsure, start by chatting with your educator, child health nurse or GP. They can help guide you towards the next step – sometimes this might be something as simple as establishing a new routine at home that helps with better sleep. If seeing a child psychologist is considered of value, we’re here to help.
If you’re not sure and have questions, drop us a line - we’re happy to have a quick chat to answer your questions.