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Concerns in the Early Years

Every child develops at their own pace, but sometimes parents notice differences that make them wonder if extra support is needed. This doesn’t always mean your child has special educational needs (SEN), often, small changes and early help can make a big difference. Many young children need extra support in one or more of these areas, and early help can make a real difference.

Here are some common areas where children may need extra support, and simple ideas you can try at home.

Speech and Language

Communication is key to learning and making friends. If your child is finding it hard to talk or understand, they may need a little extra help.

What you might notice:

Your child uses fewer words than other children their age.
They struggle to follow simple instructions.
They aren’t using words to communicate by age 2.

What can help:

Talk to your child during everyday routines:
Example: While dressing your child, say:
“We’re putting on your socks. One sock, two socks!”
This helps link words to actions.
Read together:
Example: When reading, point to a picture and name objects together, e.g. “Look! A lion. The lion is big.”
Encourage your child to repeat the word.
Use short sentences:
Example: Instead of asking,
“Do you want to go outside and play with your ball?” say “Ball outside?”
This makes language easier to process.

Social and Play Skills

Playing with others helps children learn to share, take turns, and build friendships. Some children need more support to develop these skills.

What you might notice:

Prefers playing alone rather than with other children.
Finds sharing or taking turns difficult.
Limited eye contact or doesn’t respond when called.

What can help:

Model turn-taking:
Example: Sit on the floor and roll a ball back and forth, saying
“My turn… your turn!”
Repeat so your child learns the pattern.
Encourage pretend play:
Example: Give your child a toy animal and say:
“The cow is hungry. Let’s feed the cow!”
This builds imagination and social language.

Praise small steps:
Example: If your child looks at another child or shares a toy, say:
“Great sharing! Well done!”
Positive reinforcement encourages more interaction.

Physical Development

Physical skills like crawling, walking, and using hands for play are important for independence. Some children take longer to master these.

What you might notice:

Difficulty crawling, walking, or climbing.
Struggles with tasks like holding a spoon or crayon.

What can help:

Activities like stacking blocks or threading beads:
Example: Sit together and say:
“Let’s make a tall tower!”
This improves hand-eye coordination.
Encourage outdoor play:
Example: Go to the park and encourage climbing on safe equipment:
“Let’s climb up the steps and slide down!”
Helps balance and strength.
Use chunky crayons or easy-grip utensils:
Example: Offer thick crayons for drawing and say:
“Draw a big circle!”
This supports fine motor skills.

Sensory Processing

Children experience the world through their senses. Some are more sensitive or seek extra sensory input.

What you might notice:

Overreacts to sounds, textures, or lights.
Seeks lots of movement or avoids certain activities.
Very picky about clothing or food textures.

What can help:

Create a calm space:
Example: A cozy corner with cushions and soft lighting for quiet time.
Offer sensory play:
Example: Fill a tray with sand or water and say:
“Let’s scoop and pour!”
Encourages exploration.
Introduce textures gradually:
Example: Start with smooth playdough, then add rice or beads for variety.