2 and half year old development check with HV

[Divster]

What are they ment to be able to do? What are they looking for?

We have a 2yr check here and it was checking she knew her shapes and colours, could build a tower with bricks, was dressing herself/undressing, brushing teeth etc, talking. That was about it I think.

I think as long as your LO can stand up and made a pretence at saying Hello you'll probably pass.

Agree with ineedsomesleep!

It's not a pass/fail thing, but gives you a chance to raise any concerns. It won't affect your child's oxbridge chances, honestly. Confession: I spent ages with my DC making them build brick towers .

I just got a questionaire in the post when he was 2. Load of rubbish it was. I could have put anything.

Suppose its good then really as I know they weigh them naked

These things always make me feel anxious, bit like parents evening when they are older I guess!

Divster, when DD1 nd Ds2 had a the 2 1/2 yo check, they were askes to pile up some brocks, scribble with some crayons and turn the pages of a book.

For Ds3 and Dd4 we just got a questionaire through the post and do not fond this method reliable. They only contact you back if you put down specific worries.

Blocks, not brocks!

My Ds stopped being weighed naked from about 12 months

The questionaire is stupid. I have NEVER met my health visitor though and Ds is 2.2 now

Interesting that it is 2 and a half year check mentioned here too as it is 2 years here. They can change a lot in 6 months too in terms of skills

We're supposed to have 18 month checks around here (South East Wales), not 2 or 2 1/2. I wonder why it varies so much?

Oh it is mad isn't it? You'd think something like that would have a blanket age and requirements from the child.

I actually put some concerns on my questionaire and I got a phone call but you could tell they weren't happy about having to come and see him he has been referred for SALT from it though....although the SALT woman we saw was lovely and she thinks DS just doesn't need to talk atm as he ticks all the other boxes.....who knows!!!!!!!

Naked weighing stops at 12 months iirc.

Does it? Maybe it should be still be done

Its hard to keep clothes on her as it is!

18 month checks, 2 year checks, 2.5 year checks, questionnaires even .
Around here the only scheduled check is the 6 week one I guess they expect parent just to raise their concerns if they have any. Chronic shortage of HVs and high birth rate too.

Would think thats the same everywhere though? At least you get left alone!

Showofhands
''We have a 2yr check here and it was checking she knew her shapes and colours, could build a tower with bricks, was dressing herself/undressing, brushing teeth etc, talking. That was about it I think.''

Do they really expect 2 year olds to do all that?

My nearly 22 month old speaks the odd word and doesn't dress or undress himself. He'll pull his socks off, thats about it.Also hates having his teeth brushed. I have to rugby tackle him to get near him with a toothbrush, never mind about him cleaning them himself. Should I start being worried?

Blimey, I'm dreading the check up now and hope it is a questionnaie in the post!

Please don't tell me people 'coach' their children for these things???

I never even thought to look up what my LO was 'meant' to be able to do by 6 weeks, 8 mths, 2 years.

That is crazy. These things are there as a safety net to pick up on anything that needs looking into or working on, NOT a competition or something that will go on their CV.

Just take your DC as they are and see what the HV says. Otherwise you are fixing the result and rendering the check-up absolutely useless.

Most two year olds can't dress themselves at all. Some may be able to pull an item on or off, most will be able to take off socks or a cardigan. Think about - there are children at school who can't do this if they haven't been shown how. It's learnt behaviour that you require a certain dexterity for - NOT a developmental milestone in itself.

Imo as a mother of three a child between two and three can talk a bit, run a lot, feed themselves, do some tasks depending on interest and example - mine can brush her teeth and empty the dishwasher because that's what we do, lots of toddlers can get things ready for younger sibling nappy changing, farming toddlers are good with eggs and feeding animals and so on. They can follow simple instructions but reserve the right to ignore them. They can hear well and they can see and point at things. They laugh and are happy, they cry and are shy - everything in proportion.

I am not going to be coaching her, and that was not why I asked, I just wondered, thats all...

She never mentioned 'coaching' but TheMightyToosh for what it's worth I think it's important that people do look up what is expected of their child at what age. Obviously children cary massively but for example, certain things like talking/ waving/ pointing delays can be a sign of a more serious delay and parents should be aware of that. It's just nice to know what areas your child is good at and what areas they may need a bit of support with. Certainly not about forcing them to learn or coaching them, more about encouragement in my experience.

My ds is 2.3 and can talk fairly well but rarely does to straners. Can not undress himself at all. Points to things, feeds himself, runs, climbs, recognises colours and a few shapes such as diamond, triangle etc, that's it!

My 2 yr check up was basically just a chat with the HV for me to voice any concerns and to ask about his behavious/ communication skills and diet... no tests or assessments. Nothing too scary! Sounds like it varies a lot though.

"It's just nice to know what areas your child is good at and what areas they may need a bit of support with"

Exactly my point, smiley - if people find out that building a tower is part of the 'test', and practice that with their DC beforehand, it will be a false representation of what their child has naturally acheived, which makes a mockery of the assessment.

FWIW, I put 'coach' in inverted commas to indicate that it was a term I was using to loosely describe the idea of looking up what is expected at the assessment and then making sure children can do those things (such as the poster who said they spend ages with building blocks before theirs.

It was not a direct dig at the OP, but at the practice of worrying about what 'tests' they need to pass on a certain date.

I see where you are coming from TMW.....my Ds had the buidling a tower thing at his 12 month check up though anyway. Well Actually he was 11 months.