Brief Intervention for Early Years

Do you have any concerns about your child's ability to communicate? 

By age 3, a child's vocabulary usually is more than 200 words. Children can string together two- or three-word sentences. They can talk with you in a conversation that has at least two back-and-forth exchanges. Other people can understand your toddler most of the time.

Please contact your Health Visitor if you have any concerns.

Do you have any concerns about your child's sleep pattern or behaviour?
Lots of young children find it difficult to settle down to sleep and will wake up during the night. Sleep regressions are disturbances in regular sleep behaviour. They can affect children at night-time or naptime and can cause your little one to wake frequently or fight being put down. They can even affect your child's daytime behaviour. A lack of sleep may cause excessive grumpiness, crankiness, or hyperactivity. Outbursts are common. It can take patience, consistency, and commitment, but most children's sleep problems can be solved.

Please contact your Health Visitor if you have any concerns.

Do you have any concerns about your child feeding themselves or playing independently?
At 3-4 years, there might be emotional developments, early friendships, longer sentences, a stronger memory, new physical skills and more. Activities that are good for development include reading, creative play, indoor and outdoor play, turn-taking games, and cooking. Children become more independent. For example, feed themselves, put on shoes that don't have laces, undo buttons, and do a bit more when they're getting dressed.

Please contact your Health Visitor if you have any concerns.

Do you have any concerns about toileting?
Constipation is common in childhood, particularly when children are being potty trained at around 2 to 3 years old. If your child is constipated, they may find it painful to poo, which may mean they do not want to try to poo. This can create a vicious circle; the more they hold back, the more constipated they get.

Please contact your GP if you have any concerns.