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CHILD GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING* 2 HOURS * LEVEL 2

Understanding Autism​

Developmental Red Flags​

Page 12
“Red Flags” refer to the absence of developmental milestones (skills or age-specific tasks that most children are able to accomplish). Educators will need to be familiar with these. 
The following delays warrant an immediate evaluation by a physician:
By 6 months: 
  • No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions.
By 9 months: 
  • No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions.
By 12 months: 
  • No babbling or “baby talk”
  • No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving.
  • No spoken words.
By 24 months: 
  • ​No meaningful two-word phrases that don’t involve imitating or repeating.
​Studies have shown that one third to half of parents of children with an ASD noticed a problem before their child’s first birthday, and nearly 80%–90% saw problems by 24 months of age. This is where you as an educator come in. Although it is not appropriate for you to diagnose a child with autism (only a licensed physician can do that), you do play a key role in identifying and notifying parents of early signs of ASD.

​Many of the children in your care are with you for 8+ hours a day. It is your responsibility to be knowledgeable about the early signs and red flags and to present them in a sensitive manner to your families.