Behavioral and developmental health is as critical to your child as physical health - and working with a pediatrician in Raleigh, NC that understands this is vital. Carolina Kids Pediatrics is firmly committed to serving your child's behavioral and developmental needs. If you have noticed that your child seems different than their peers, has different interests or is not keeping up with other kids in some way, it may be time to take a step back to dig a little deeper. Often, this starts with a behavioral or developmental consultation at Carolina Kids Pediatrics.

A few common reasons that families seek a behavioral or developmental consultation with us include delayed communication skills in toddlers and preschoolers, excessive or unusual tantrums or behavioral changes, difficulty with age-appropriate play or social interactions, and academic challenges in the early school years. 

If you are thinking that your child is not on the same level as the other kids their age, consulting with the physicians at Carolina Kids Pediatrics in Raleigh could help. If you are worried about whether your young child is developing appropriately, my favorite website to provide you with some additional guidance is www.firstsigns.org. Although designed as a website to increase awareness of early signs of autism, it also provides great general information on normal early childhood development.

The public school system also provides some great resources for early childhood assessment. For kids under age 3, the school system provides free developmental assessment to determine if your child is on track, or if they need access to early intervention services because of specific developmental challenges. Your county's early intervention contact information can be found at http://www.beearly.nc.gov/index.php/contact/cdsa. 

For preschool age children with developmental challenges (age 3 - kindergarten), please contact your county's Child Find office. Information about Wake County's process for evaluating preschool kids for developmental help can be found at: http://www.wcpss.net/Page/4310

Wake County offers an additional program that provides assistance to the parents of toddlers and preschool kids when it comes to common parenting challenges around behavior and development. The Project Enlightenment program offers both parent and preschool consultations, as well as a great series of parenting classes. Check out their website at: www.projectenlightenment.wcpss.net. 

All of these resources are also listed on the "Community Resources" page of www.carolinakidspediatrics.com. 

Regardless of your concerns, the first step is to seek help from a pediatrician in Raleigh, NC that has experience with behavioral and developmental challenges. Making sure that your child has the resources that they need is essential. A qualified pediatrician will be able to assess, diagnose and refer you to the resources that will put you on the right track for the future. If you have concerns about your child's development, call Carolina Kids Pediatrics today at 919-881-9009 to schedule an appointment.