This appointment will usually take place within your home or a clinic when your child reaches 2-2½ years (24-30 months).
We will send you an appointment letter in the post along with an ages and stages questionnaires relevant to your child’s age range for you to fill in before your visit.
It’s really helpful if you fill these questionnaires in as they will help you to prepare for the appointment and see how your child is progressing by trying the activities with your child.
The questionnaires cover different areas of development.
Areas of development
- Speech, language and understanding
- Physical development
- Motor skills
- Problem solving
- Social skills
- Emotional skills and behaviours.
During this appointment your child’s height and weight will be recorded in your Red Book (please bring your red book with you to the appointment).
The appointment gives you an opportunity to discuss any worries or concerns you have, these may include:
- Any health concerns
- Developmental concerns
- Diet and nutrition
- Behaviour
- Toilet training
- Sleep
- Preparing for nursery or school.
We understand everyone’s journey and situation is unique to them, it is important to remember this visit is an opportunity for you to talk about your child’s progress, learn more about what you can do to help their development and make sure you have the support you need.
Toilet training
You may be starting to think about toilet training. There is no perfect time to start potty training and every child is different.
Most children are ready between 18 months and 3 years, we can discuss how to get your child ready for toilet training and signpost you to useful links. The aim is for your child to be toilet trained through the day before they start pre school / reception
This stage of your child’s development can be challenging, the health professional will sensitively review your emotional well-being, providing support and guidance where necessary to yourself and the family.
As with previous visits the health professional will discuss general health information including:
- Immunisations
- Dental care
- Smoking cessation
- Safety
- Health promotion.
Preparing your child for school
Starting nursery and school can come round really quickly. Children learn at different rates and you can support your child to become more independent with everyday tasks through play and the experiences you provide for them.
Your communication, encouragement of self-care skills and supporting their emotional development so they can understand and express their own needs will help prepare them for school life.
Here are some ideas to think about to help prepare your child to be ready to learn.
- Sleep – does your child have a regular bedtime routine to fall asleep around 6-8pm. Such as supper, bath, clean teeth, into bed, story, fall asleep
- Getting dressed – can your child put on their clothes, coat and shoes.
- Getting washed – can your child wash their hands, face and teeth.
- Toileting – can your child go to the toilet for wees and poos through the day and pull their clothes up and down.
- Eating and drinking – can your child use a fork, knife and spoon. Can they open wrappers. Can they drink from a cup. Do they eat a variety of family foods and are they a healthy weight.
- Listening and understanding – can your child listen, follow instructions and routines.
- Communication skills – Can your child communicate how they are feeling and what they want.
- Developing social skills – can your child share and take turns. Can they tidy up. Can they separate from you to go into nursery/school.
- Pre writing – can your child make marks on paper with pencils/crayons. Do they know some colours.
- Reading skills – can your child recognise their own name. Does your child enjoy looking at books and talking about the pictures.
- Number skills – can you child count and recognise numbers up to 5. Can they name simple shapes like circle, triangle and square.
If you have any questions or concerns ahead of your child starting school please contact your health visiting team on 0191 282 3319 to discuss support options.
Your next routine contact with a health professional will be a letter in the term before they start school to ask if you have any concerns.
Contact
You will be asked to contact the health visiting team via the Single Point of Access number 0191 282 3319 if you wish to discuss anything about your child’s health or development.
