Phil seems to act more immature than other children in his play group. What would you evaluate to determine if his behavior is normal or not?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ideas to keep in mind when evaluating if a behavior is abnormal include the following:
a. Know the developmental stages of the children in your class.
b. If a child appears extremely immature in relation to her peers, the child may be developmentally delayed,
c. Be aware young boys often have a harder time meeting expectations than girls.
d. Look for signs of medical causes for challenging behaviors.
e. When behavior is out of hand, bring in professional assistance.
f. Be alert to the extremely withdrawn child.
g. A child whose behavior changes suddenly and drastically may be signaling a problem requiring attention.
h. If you notice unexplainable bruises, abrasions, cuts, or burns on a child, consider the possibility of child abuse.

I would first look at Phil’s age to see if he is as old as his peers. Then I would see if Phil is the only boy or one of a few boys in the group since boys often lag behind girls. I would look at Phil closely for signs of abuse or signs of health problems, and if necessary, I would get another expert opinion about Phil.