Early Childhood Development | Video

Van Tieu | 3/19/2013

Children develop at different rates, but sometimes, slower development can be a cause for concern. But there are options to help them along. A child with problems talking or who has issues with hand-eye coordination could benefit from additional screening. It could help them catch up and be ready for school.

Five year old Kingston and two year old Cody can`t pronounce some letters. Their friends teased them for it, and their mother, Rachel Motta, says it had a negative effect.

"They weren`t able to answer for themselves. Kingston couldn`t even speak his name. So people would ask him his name, and he would look at me to answer."

Doctors recommended speech therapy after the boys had early developmental screenings at their school.

"Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Every child develops differently, every child sometimes needs a little boost in some areas," said speech pathologist Tracey Lockrem.

Sanford Health provides early developmental screenings to catch these impediments.

"We look at a child`s ability to move in his environment, gross motor skills, as well as fine motor skills, being able to write, pick up food, eat, and the communication and speech aspect. We`ll be looking at their intelligibility, which means how much do we understand what they`re saying," Lockrem said.

Lockrem says the earlier these therapies can be done, the better- not just for their skills, but self-esteem.

"A child can become very frustrated, become socially introverted because they`re afraid to talk, because they know they may sound a little different."

Their mother says she`s seen a tremendous improvement and is happy to see them comfortable in their own skin: recalling a recent tennis class icebreaker.

"I think before the speech, they would have been very hesitant, but Kingston was the first to raise his hand and the first one to say his favorite food, his favorite TV show, and say his name very proudly."

She says early speech therapy will play a huge part in their future.

Sanford Health will offer these free early development screenings this Saturday.

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