Early Intervention

Developmental Milestones from Birth to 3 years

This is a simple checklist that shows a few skills your child should be doing at the particular age listed. In order to start getting the services needed by the child in the appropriate setting, either in the home or at the Clinic.

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Developmental Milestones from 0 – 3 Months

Cognitive

  • Child watches an object moved slowly through line of sight

  • Brings hands to mouth

Communication

  • Differentiated cry when tired, hungry or in pain

  • Turns head toward voice or other sounds

Social Emotional

  • Interacts by smiling and cooing

  • Looks at adult face

Adaptive

  • Forms a tight seal around nipple when sucking

  • Sleeps for 3-8 hour intervals

Physical Development

  • Will lift head when laying on belly

  • Tolerates tummy time

  • Reaches out to grasp an object

    Developmental Milestones from 0 – 3 Months

Cognitive

  • Explores objects in a variety of ways

  • Plays with a rattle placed in

    hand

Communication

  • Laughs out loud

  • Vocalizes pleasure and displeasure

Social Emotional

  • Comforts self by sucking hand or thumb

  • Interacts differently with caregivers and strangers

Adaptive

  • Swallows pureed foods

  • Uses tongue to move food around in mouth

  • Closes lips when swallowing

Physical Development

  • Transfers objects from one hand to another

  • Bangs two objects together

  • Sits for at least 5 seconds with hips supported

  • Rolls from back to stomach

Developmental Milestones from 6-9 Months

Cognitive

  • Imitates familiar actions (claps hands)

  • Persists in efforts to obtain an object

Communication

  • React to offers to be picked up

  • Reach for desired object with intention

  • Produces 3 or more consonant sounds/babbles with intent

Social Emotional

  • Extends arms to familiar person

  • Plays simple games like Peek-A Boo

Adaptive

  • Closes lips to remove food from a spoon

  • Holds or supports bottle to drink

Physical Development

  • Picks up small object using thumb and forefinger

  • Uses arms to move forward on belly

Developmental Milestones from 12-18 months

Cognitive

  • Looks at picture book with adult

  • Places small object into small container

  • Manages 3 or 4 toys by setting one aside when given a new toy

Communication

  • Has a word, sign or sound to request drink, eat, up

  • Uses 25 or more words

  • Points to 3 body parts, imitates gestures, does motions to songs

Social Emotional

  • Separates from caregiver in familiar situation without crying

  • Wants to do many things without help

Adaptive

  • Stirs with a spoon

  • Fusses when diaper needs to be changed

  • Can use a straw

Physical Development

  • Walks 5 or more steps independently

  • Can squat then stand while maintaining balance

  • Uses hand to hold paper in place while scribbling

Developmental Milestones from 24-30 months

Cognitive

  • Repeats finger plays with words and actions

  • Matches simple shapes (circle, square, triangle

Communication

  • Identifies common objects by their use (show me what you eat with)

  • Uses sentences of three or more words

  • Uses 50+ words to identify people, pets, household objects

Social Emotional

  • Usually takes turns

  • Recognizes when another person is happy or sad

  • Tantrums are usually brief and easily soothed

Adaptive

  • Takes off own shoes, socks and pants

  • Uses a fork to stab food

  • Will sit on toilet for at least 1 minute, supervised

Physical Development

  • Walks up steps

  • Throws a ball with relative accuracy, catches a

    ball, trapping it against chest

  • Spontaneously uses circular, vertical and horizontal strokes

    when scribbling

  • Uses adult grasp on crayon

More Info

Early Intervention services are provided for children who demonstrate a delay in one or more of the five developmental domains

The Domains are:

  • 1. Personal/Social: solitary play, social play, interactions with others, trust and relationships.

  • 2. Motor: ability to move and control various body parts.Gross Motor: large muscle movements, such as walking, running, skipping, and swimming andsitting, pushing, pulling, and squatting.Fine Motor: hand and finger movements; manipulative skills (stacking blocks, buttoning, zipping, coloring, printing, tying).

  • 3. Cognitive Development: expansion of the child’s intellect. Recognizing, processing, and organizing information
    and then using it appropriately. Includes the following processes: discovering, interpreting, sorting, classifying,
    memory, making judgments, solving problems,understanding rules, thinking ahead, and visualizing consequences.

  • 4. Language: addresses babbling, vocalizing, speaking, listening, and understanding.Expressive Communication: the ability to use words to describe and explain.Receptive Communication: the ability to understand directions and concepts.

  • 5. Adaptive/Self Help: how the child assists in taking care of herself (self care) and how the child shows personal responsibility.
    (bathing, toileting, eating, drinking).

Referrals

Making a Referral for Early Intervention Services:

Next Step Therapy is a contracted provider of services in several counties. Listed below is the contact information for each County Early Intervention Program that we work with. Once a referral is made, a Service Coordinator will contact you to make arrangements for an initial meeting with you and your child. An Evaluation will be completed to determine if your child is eligible for services. Request Next Step Therapy as your provider!

  • Armstrong County:

    • Community Guidance Center — 800-692-7288

  • Butler County:

    • Center for Community Resources, Inc. — 724-431-3748

  • Clarion County:

    • Center for Community Resources, Inc. — 814-226-1080

  • Clearfield/Jefferson County:

    • Service Access & Management — 814-372-7020

  • Crawford County:

    • Crawford County Human Services — 814-724-8380

  • Mercer County:

    • Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission — 724-662-2230

  • Venango County:

    • Venango County Mental Health & Developmental Services — 814-432-9100

  • Warren/Forest County:

    • Human Services — 814-726-2100

Early Intervention Services

  • Early Intervention services can include:

  • Physical Therapy

  • Occupational Therapy (including sensory issues and feeding issues)

  • Speech Therapy (including feeding/swallowing issues)

  • Specialized Instruction

  • Specialized Instruction for Behavior Support

Developmental Milestones from 9-12 Months

Cognitive

  • Looks at pictures in a book

  • Rolls wheeled toys

  • Removes rings from a ring stack

Communication

  • Can point to 5 or more familiar persons, animals or toys

  • Imitates/Initiates gestures

  • Blows kisses

  • Plays Peek A Boo

  • Uses 1 or 2 words (mamma, dadda, hi, bye)

Social Emotional

  • Imitates facial expressions and sounds

  • Repeats activity that gains positive response from others

Adaptive

  • Chews textured foods

  • Cooperates with dressing, undressing and diaper change

Physical Development

  • Walks 3 or more steps with assistance

  • Scribbles spontaneously when crayon placed in hand

    Developmental Milestones from 18-24 months

    Cognitive

    • Spontaneously names 5 or more objects

    • Uses a substitute object to represent a real one (pretends a stick is a brush)

    • Matches animals to the sounds they make

    Communication

    • Names familiar characters seen on TV

    • Uses at least 50 different words

    • Will ask for help

    • Puts 2+ words together

    • Will follow a 2-step direction

    Social Emotional

    • Sings familiar songs

    • Shows pride in accomplishments

    • Tantrums are short and easily soothed

    Adaptive

    • Removes loose clothing without assistance

    • Uses spoon independently

    • Puts familiar objects away

    Physical Development

    • Walks up steps

    • Throws a ball with relative accuracy

    • Spontaneously uses circular, vertical, and horizontal strokes when scribbling

Insurance

We accept most major medical insurance plans including:

  • Highmark

  • UPMC

  • Tricare

  • Medical Assistance Plans: Amerihealth Caritas, UPMC for You

  • Medicare