Early childhood developmental screening recommended

WHEATLAND — Staff members of Wyoming Child & Family Development – Wheatland Center in conjunction with Platte County School District No. 1 will conduct “One Before Two” developmental screenings for children ages birth through 5 years old from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Wheatland Center, located at 28 Rompoon Road, and Aug. 8 at the Guernsey Center, located at 371 S. Kansas. Parents must make an appointment for a screening.
Regular developmental screenings during the early years ensures that a child is on track, and help identify areas where additional support may be needed.

A child’s growth is more than just physical. Children grow, develop and learn throughout their lives, starting at birth. A child’s development can be followed by how they play, learn, speak and behave. Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time and waving “bye-bye” are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in playing, learning, speaking, behaving and moving (crawling, walking, etc.).
Trained professionals use standardized developmental checklists and tools to gather information by talking with parents and teachers, observing the child, and having the child answer questions and complete tasks. The team uses the developmental screening to tell if a child is learning basic skills and reaching developmental milestones when they should.
The screening assesses the child’s temperament, behavior and skills such as understanding and thinking; emotional, social and communication skills; and physical coordination and self-help skills. This is an opportunity to determine your child’s strengths and needs, and address any questions or concerns you may have.
Children must be pre-registered and accompanied by an adult. Screening appointments are free of charge and open to all children in the county who are birth through 5 years old. To schedule an appointment for a child’s free developmental screening in Wheatland, call Becky Condie at 322-3385. To schedule an appointment in Guernsey, call Danielle Noggle at 836-2838.