What is normal?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

What is normal for a 2.5-year-old little girl? I strongly feel like something is "OFF" with this little one but I can't quite place my finger on it.

She doesn't much play. She holds stuff and walks around with it. If asked to do something she nods but never actually does it....kind of just aimlessly wanders around. She fixates on "Where is mommy? Is it mommy time? Where is mommy? Where is mommy?" There is more...I can come back and add as I remember...

[Indoorvoice]

I have one the same age who is like this. She gets A TON of screen time when not in my care and her parents anticipated her every need without making her ask for anything. She literally had no idea how to play or follow a direction when she first got here. Things are much better now. How long have you had this girl?

[AmyKidsCo]

CDC Act Early has free developmental screening checklists and a list of milestones by age. The checklists are here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/downloads.html

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have one the same age who is like this. She gets A TON of screen time when not in my care and her parents anticipated her every need without making her ask for anything. She literally had no idea how to play or follow a direction when she first got here. Things are much better now. How long have you had this girl?

This LO has been here about 4 weeks. They get A TON of screen time as well. Hmmmm...

[Indoorvoice]

Yeah, I don't claim to be an expert on the effects of screen time, but I can usually pick out the kids right away who spend their whole day on the iPad. They're just different... They don't have any idea how to interact with other kids or how to play with toys.

[daycarediva]

It's becoming more and more common. A friend of mine is a PT. She says she's seeing a lot of referrals for children with weak fine/gross motor skills. Coloring is done on an iPad, there is no natural strengthening of the small motor skills needed to later write, children can't use scissors in K.

Kids can't make eye contact, no spectrum disorder involved. Serious screen withdrawal, I have one who cries the good part of every Monday morning and refuses to play. Just sits and whines for video games.

The overuse of technology is hurting small children. There's a reason the AAP recommends no screen time under the age of 2.

[Indoorvoice]

It's so sad. Then teachers get blamed for not being "effective".

[cheerfuldom]

Before I even read the responses, I thought of one girl I had like this and yes, she had a lot of screen time and little to no social interaction till she came to my daycare at 4. I won't be surprised at all if she is flagged for special needs when she goes to school either through an actual special needs or due to environment at home. I dont have her here anymore but she is with a provider I know in the area.