Worried your child is delayed from the pandemic? Here’s what experts say to do

Parents of today's young children often find themselves wondering whether factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic have stunted their toddlers' development. Some are worried their child is taking too long to learn to walk, to grab objects, to vocalize using words. Others fear their child isn't learning social skills or is too prone to anger or physical violence when they don't get what they want.

Growing research suggests these parents have valid concerns. Compared with previous generations of kids, more children born in recent years are struggling to reach various developmental milestones.

Child development experts partly blame the isolation and stress associated with the COVID-19 era but note it isn't too late to help many pandemic babies catch up.

Early is the operative word in early intervention, they say.

During the pandemic, “everything about life changed, in small and big ways,” said Nicol Russell, vice president of implementation research for Teaching Strategies, a Maryland-based company that provides early-learning curriculum and assessments. “Your child no doubt has been affected.”

Here are some tips on what to do if you think your child isn't hitting recommended developmental milestones.

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How do I know if my pandemic baby is delayed?

Is your baby approaching his 1-year birthday and struggling to pull himself up into a standing position? Is your toddler 2 and not yet babbling? These are signs your child may be lagging developmentally.

But sometimes the signs are subtler – and oftentimes they're mixed. That may feel particularly true for parents whose children have had little exposure to the outside world. For example, it has become more difficult to determine whether a child's challenges in social situations are evidence of a potential delay or simply of years holed up.

Children should be screened for their progress toward developmental milestones established by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP recommends general screenings at nine, 18 and 30 months or whenever a parent is concerned.

Each questionnaire includes a customized set of prompts about skills typical of children of the respective age: “Does your (9-month-old) walk beside furniture while holding on with only one hand?" and “When your (18-month-old) wants something, does she tell you by pointing at it?”

Parents and caregivers know their child best, said Kate Barlow, a Massachusetts-based occupational therapist who specializes in infant mental health and serves as an early intervention ambassador for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re concerned something’s amiss with your child’s development, the first step is to talk with your child’s doctor.

“When in doubt, check it out,” she said. “If you go through a checklist and the child isn't meeting one of those milestones, that doesn't mean anything other than go get it checked out.”

If it seems like there might be a delay, your doctor can refer you to a specialist who will evaluate your child further or offer guidance on publicly available early intervention services.

"The child doesn't have to have a diagnosis or get labeled as 'special education' in order to receive early intervention services," Barlow said. "The child can just get the extra help to 'catch up' so they can get ready for kindergarten."

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Why is it important to act early? What happens if I don’t?

The CDC urges parents not to wait if they’re concerned about their kid’s development.

During the first few several years of life, the brain is extremely plastic. If a delay is caught and addressed early enough, the brain is better able to rewire itself where needed. That intervention can include a range of therapies, including physical, occupational and speech as well as mental health counseling.

Without any intervention in those early, malleable years of brain development, existing neuroconnections become reinforced with age.

Dana Suskind, a pediatric surgeon and early childhood development expert at the University of Chicago, offered this analogy: The first three years of life are like building a hard drive and education is like layering on software. While the brain remains plastic and never stops making new connections, the more storage space you have early on, the greater your capacity for incorporating new software later on.

"There will be never a more effective time than the first three years of life for establishing a foundation for lifelong learning," said Suskind, author of the new book "Parent Nation: Unlocking Every Child's Potential, Fulfilling Society's Promise."

Experts stress remediation is still possible after the official early intervention window closes at age 3. It’s just much harder, they say, and takes much longer.

If your access to a doctor is limited, you can call your state’s early intervention program yourself to request a screening and see if your child might be eligible for services. In many states, such services are provided free of charge to children deemed eligible. For more, here's what to do if you're concerned or you can look up your state early intervention contact here.

This story was produced with support from the Education Writers Association's Reporting Fellowship.

Contact Alia Wong at (202) 507-2256 or awong@usatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @aliaemily.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Worried about delays in your kid? Early intervention is important