Developmental screening is a procedure designed to identify children who should receive more intensive assessment or diagnosis for potential developmental delays. Developmental screening allows daycare providers and parents the ability to receive a snapshot of a child’s development.
Part 3 of our interview with Cris Rowan, pediatric occupational therapist, sensory specialist, CEO of Zone’in Programs Inc. provides resources for information about developmental screening in daycare centers and preschools.
OwnADaycare: Do you have any resources you might suggest for more information about developmental screening for young children?
Cris Rowan: American Academy of Pediatrics, CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation, local health unit, child care centers, family physician, school special education directors.
OwnADaycare: Do you have anything else you would like to add on this topic?
Cris Rowan:Technology overuse by infants, toddlers and children is causally linked to developmental delays, mental illness and behavior disorders. Parents and child care workers in the preschool setting should identify children with high usage patterns, and refer to appropriate information sources for technology reduction and management. Please refer to attached Creating Sustainable Futures Program for additional information and research.
Foundation skills for learning are not being achieved in pre-school settings, and children are entering the school system with low postural tone, poor motor coordination, and unable to maintain arousal states necessary to pay attention and learn (4). Eight hours per day combined technology use by the elementary population is rapidly destroying family structure and eroding the health and education systems as we know them, and it’s time to act (5). School-based Balanced Technology Management programs would ensure children and their families get the information and tools they need to achieve a balance between technology use, and what they need to grow and succeed.
Research
- Hamilton S. Screening for developmental delay: Reliable, easy-to-use tools. Journal of Family Practice. 2006; 55 (5): 416-422.
- Birmingham CL, Muller JL, Palepu A, Spinelli JJ, Anis AH. The cost of obesity in Canada. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 1999; 160:483-488.
- Waddell C. Improving the Mental Health of Young Children. Children’s Health Policy Centre, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver BC, Canada. 2007. Available at: http://www.firstcallbc.org/pdfs/Communities/4-alliance.pdf.
- Jennings JT. Conveying the message about optimal infant positions. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics. 2005; 25 (3); 3-18.
- Rideout VJ, Vandewater EA, Wartella EA. Zero to six: electronic media in the lives of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. Menlo Park (CA): Kaiser Family Foundation; Fall 2003.
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