Parent Screening Tool for General Milestones

Checklist for Preschool Aged Children
If your child is demonstrating difficulty with more than two listed items, an OT evaluation may be warranted. I am available via email or phone if you would like to discuss your child and determine whether they may benefit from OT. Please mention all concerns to your child's physician as well. This checklist is not intended to diagnose a delay or disorder in any areas.

Sensory Processing and Attention to Task:
  • Difficulty remaining seated during tabletop tasks/meals
  • Difficulty imitating movement or learning new skills
  • Frequently slouches, leans on table or slides off chair during tabletop tasks/meals
  • Frequently squirms, fidgets and bounces
  • Frequently falls, trips or bumps into people and objects
  • Avoids messy play (water, glue playdough, shaving cream, finger paint, sand, etc.)
  • Frequent meltdowns that appear inappropriate based upon the cause
  • Decreased ability to pretend play compared with same-aged peers
Fine Motor:
  • Unable to isolate index finger to point
  • Appears to use too little OR excessive force during activities
  • Unable to complete simple chunky wooden puzzles
  • Unable to build a 10 block tower (3-4 yrs)
  • Movements are shaky or stiff (not smooth and regular)
  • Does not appear to have a dominant hand/frequently switches hands (3 yrs)
  • Unable to cut along a straight line (3 & 4 yrs) or a curved line (5 yrs)
  • Awkward pencil and scissor grasp
  • Unable to draw a line, dots and circle (3 yrs), cross and square (4 yrs), triangle and X (5 yrs)
  • Unable to recognize own name or letters (4-5 yrs)
  • Unable to draw representational drawings (stick figure, sun, flower, house)
Gross Motor:
  • Does not use alternating gait when climbing up/down stairs (one foot on each step)
  • Appears “floppy” or loose-jointed
  • Awkward gait pattern while walking and/or running
  • Lack of general safety awareness (usually apparent when using playground equipment, walking in parking lots/roads, navigating stairs, etc.)
  • Unable to participate in play requiring feet to leave the ground (swings, slides, ladders, etc.)
  • Unable to catch or throw a ball (3 yrs) or a bounced ball (4-5 yrs)
  • Unable to balance on one foot for 2 seconds (3 yrs) 5 seconds (4 yrs) or 10 seconds (6 yrs)
  • Does not use a 3 wheeled scooter or tricycle (3 yrs) or bike with training wheels (4-5 yrs)
Self Care:
  • Unable to dress self (a little bit of help orienting and fastening is ok)
  • Unable to feed self with a spoon and fork, or is messier than peers
  • Requires more than minimal assistance (caregiver completes more than 25% of the task) with toileting activities (clothing management, hygiene)
  • Difficulty opening baggies and food containers for meals (5 years)
 
Screening Developed By:
Kristen M. Goodrich, OTR/L
Seacoast Play Works Therapy, PLLC

*Please do not reproduce or distribute without consent​
​

For more information regarding developmental milestones, please visit: