Identifying Children with Mental Health Challenges
Always Consider:
• How severe is the behavior?
• How many weeks or months has the behavior been occurring?
• How long does the behavior last (e.g., minutes, hours)?
• How does the behavior compare with the behavior of other children of the same age?
• Are there events at home or in child care that make the behavior better or worse?
• Are there cultural factors influencing the behavior?
• What has the child learned about relationships or consequences based on past experiences?
Behaviors that may indicate emotional or mental health problems in Infants and Toddlers
• Displays very little emotion
• Does not show interest in sights sounds or touch
• Rejects or avoids being touched or held or playing with others
• Unusually difficult to soothe or console
• Unable to comfort or calm self
• Extremely fearful or on-guard
• Does not turn to familiar adults for comfort or help
• Exhibits sudden behavior changes
• Sleeping and feeding issues
• Delays in meeting developmental milestones
Behaviors that may indicate emotional or mental health problems in Preschool Children
• Cannot or has trouble playing with others or objects
• Absence of language or communication
• Frequently fights with others
• Very sad
• Unusually fearful
• Inappropriate responses to situations (e.g., laughs instead of cries)
• Withdrawn
• Extremely active
• Loss of earlier skills (e.g., toileting, language, motor)
• Sudden behavior changes
• Very accident prone
• Destructive to self and/or others
• Sleeping issues
• Being asked to leave a daycare or preschool setting due to behaviors. (losing placements in these programs)
