Dear Parent/Guardian/Caregiver:

We are pleased to be able to offer the Nipissing District Developmental Screen for your child. The screen is a tool for your personal use that will help you to identify any possible concerns about your child’s development and bring to your doctors’ or other professionals’ attention.

The screen is a short checklist of some of the most important skills that a child should master by a partic ular age. This is not a diagnostic tool and it is not meant to be a formal assessment of the child's skills -- but rather a quick survey to determine any areas that may require some extra help.

Gross motor (large muscle) Fine motor (small muscle) Vision Hearing Commu nication, Speech/Language Social-emotional Self- help skills Cognitive skills

The Screens help parents:

• Learn about their child's development
• Recognize their child's skills and abilities
• Identify developmental areas that may need extra attention
• Plan intervention strategies, including referrals to qualified professionals, if required
• Promote early identification

Some items have been marked with an asterisk to indicate the item may not be common to all cultures. In some situations, developmental differences may reflect the culturally based experiences that the child has had, rather than indicate a delay.

Speech and language skills are specific to a child’s first language. Caution must be taken when interpreting “no” responses when the Screen administered is not in the child’s first languag e

Don’t adjust for prematurity.

If the child falls between two ages, please use the earlier screen, e.g. for 4 1/2 year old use the 4 Year Screen.

If two or more “No” responses are marked, a referral to a healthcare and/or childcare professional is recommended.