How this can show up at home, at school, and in play
Developmental Screening & Milestones can affect play, attention, self-regulation, self-care, and school participation. Not sure if it's a phase? A free developmental screening checks fine motor, sensory, self-care, and school-readiness skills from home. When these challenges start creating frustration, fatigue, or added stress for the family, an evaluation can help clarify which skills need support most.
When it may be time to schedule an evaluation
If your child needs more help than expected with play, dressing, eating, writing, routines, or classroom participation.
If teachers or caregivers notice frequent frustration, avoidance, quick fatigue, or trouble keeping up with important skills.
If you want a clearer picture of what support could help now and how to build a plan for home and school.
What a care plan may include
Standardized developmental assessment
milestone evaluation
parent education
early intervention planning
Therapies that may be part of the plan
Every child develops at their own pace, but some differences are worth a closer look. A developmental screening is a quick, structured check of the skills children typically build between ages 2 and 7: fine motor control, sensory processing, self-regulation, daily living skills, and school readiness.
Why screen before you wait and see
Many parents sense that something is different but aren't sure whether it's a phase or a pattern. A screening gives you clarity. It's not a diagnosis. It's a conversation starter that helps you understand where your child stands next to typical milestones, and whether occupational therapy could help.
Kids who get support during those early windows usually make faster, more lasting progress. Waiting to see rarely makes the picture clearer.
The six skill areas we check
Our therapists look at skills across six areas:
- Fine motor skills: pencil grip, scissors, buttons, drawing
- Gross motor and coordination: balance, catching, climbing, body awareness
- Sensory processing: responses to sound, touch, movement, and textures
- Self-regulation: handling transitions, calming down, emotional control
- Daily living skills: dressing, feeding, grooming, toileting
- School readiness: sitting for tasks, following directions, handwriting
How a screening goes
Your therapist watches your child during ordinary activities like playing, drawing, and getting dressed, and may use tools like the BOT-2 or Sensory Profile. You leave with a clear summary of strengths, areas of concern, and a recommended next step.
No diagnosis is needed. No referral is required in Arizona. And the first conversation is free.
Take the Free Screening Guide
Not ready for a therapist visit at home yet? Our free developmental screening guide walks you through the signs by age and skill area so you can see where your child stands in five minutes, from home.
Take the free screening guide →
How to start
Tell us what you're seeing: sensory meltdowns, handwriting struggles, trouble at school, difficulty with self-care. We'll tell you honestly whether an evaluation makes sense. No pressure, no sales pitch, and the call is free.
Related conditions
If you are comparing similar symptoms or nearby diagnoses, these pages can help you understand related treatment options.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
OT for autistic children builds the skills that make a day work: dressing, meals, sleep, transitions. We do that work in your home, not a waiting room.
Cerebral Palsy
No two children with CP move the same way. We build the plan around what your child can do today, in the house they actually live in.
Developmental Delays
A delay is not a life sentence. Early, play-based therapy in your home gives a child the best shot at catching up during the years that count.
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