5 Early Signs Your Child May Benefit from Therapy 

Sign 1: Speech or Language Delays 

Language is the foundation of learning, connection, and self-expression. When a child struggles to communicate, the impact ripples through every area of their life — their confidence, their friendships, their performance at school, and their emotional wellbeing.

Difficulty Forming Words or Sentences

Speech development follows a general timeline, though children vary. By 12 months, most children say a few words. By 2 years, they combine two words. By 3 years, they speak in short sentences and strangers can understand most of what they say. By school age, children should be able to tell stories, ask questions, and hold conversations.

Warning signs include: a toddler who is not yet babbling or pointing; a two-year-old with fewer than 50 words; a three-year-old whose speech is mostly unclear; an older child who stammers, leaves out sounds, or is regularly misunderstood by people outside the family. Many children with speech sound difficulties also show frustration, avoidance of talking, or withdrawal from social situations.

Trouble Following Instructions

Language is not only about speaking — it is also about understanding. A child who struggles to follow two-step instructions ("get your shoes and wait by the door"), who constantly asks for repetition, who seems confused in group settings, or who misunderstands questions may have receptive language difficulties.

These challenges often go unnoticed because the child may appear to be coping — nodding along, watching peers for cues, or masking confusion. Left unaddressed, receptive language difficulties can significantly affect reading, maths, and classroom participation as children progress through school.

A mum from Dee Why noticed her four-year-old daughter rarely responded when called by name and struggled to follow simple instructions at home. After assessment at Kids First, she received a speech therapy program targeting both receptive and expressive language. Within four months, her communication had transformed — and so had her joy in connecting with family and friends.

Sign 2: Motor Skill Challenges

Movement underpins almost everything children do — writing, playing, eating, getting dressed, and taking part in the physical activities that define childhood on the Northern Beaches, from weekend sport to backyard play.

Fine Motor Difficulties

Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hands and fingers. Children who struggle in this area may find it hard to hold a pencil correctly, cut with scissors, do up buttons or zips, tie shoelaces, or use cutlery. In the classroom, these difficulties often become visible around Kindergarten and Year 1 when the written demands of school increase significantly.

Signs to watch for include: an awkward or immature pencil grip; handwriting that is laboured, messy, or very slow; a child who tires quickly during drawing or writing; reluctance to do craft activities; or frustration with tasks that other children manage easily.

Gross Motor Difficulties and Coordination Problems

Gross motor skills involve larger muscle groups used for running, jumping, climbing, catching, and maintaining balance and posture. Some children appear clumsy — frequently bumping into things, falling, or struggling on playground equipment. Others may have difficulty learning to ride a bike, swim, or participate in team sports.

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a recognised condition in which motor learning difficulties persist despite normal intelligence and without an obvious neurological cause. It affects around 5–6% of school-aged children and is often under-identified. An occupational therapy assessment can determine whether a child's coordination difficulties warrant targeted support.

A dad from Warriewood was concerned that his seven-year-old son was avoiding PE at school and refusing to ride his bike with friends. An OT assessment identified significant gross motor delays and low muscle tone. After a targeted therapy program combining balance, core strength, and coordination activities, his son completed a full season of junior rugby — and loved every minute of it.

Sign 3: Emotional or Behavioural Concerns

Children do not always have the words to express what they are feeling. Often, emotional distress shows up as behaviour — meltdowns, withdrawal, aggression, or persistent anxiety. These signs deserve to be taken seriously, not dismissed as "just a phase."

Anxiety

Childhood anxiety is more common than many parents realise. It can look like persistent worrying, school refusal, sleep difficulties, frequent stomach aches or headaches without a medical cause, clinginess, or an intense fear of new situations. Anxious children may avoid parties, sleepovers, or activities they previously enjoyed.

On the Northern Beaches, where there is often significant social pressure around sport, academic performance, and social belonging, anxiety can be quietly building in children who appear to be coping. Early psychological support — including evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — can make a profound difference before anxiety becomes entrenched.

Anger and Emotional Dysregulation

All children experience big emotions. But when anger is intense, frequent, and lasting beyond typical developmental stages, or when a child is unable to calm down and return to baseline without significant adult support, this is a signal worth exploring. Emotional dysregulation can stem from anxiety, sensory processing difficulties, unmet communication needs, or other underlying factors.

Difficulty with Social Interaction

Some children find it hard to read social cues, make and keep friends, take turns in conversation, or understand unwritten social rules. These difficulties can lead to isolation, bullying, and low self-esteem. Social skills development is an area where both psychology and speech pathology can provide meaningful support.

A mum from Manly Vale described her nine-year-old as "always on edge" — dreading school, refusing to try new activities, and having frequent meltdowns over small changes to routine. Our psychologist identified an anxiety disorder with sensory sensitivities contributing. After six months of combined psychology and OT support, her daughter was attending school consistently and had joined a local dance class.

Sign 4: Learning or Attention Challenges

School places enormous demands on children — they must sit still, listen, read, write, remember, and manage relationships, all at the same time. When a child consistently struggles despite effort and support, there is often an underlying reason worth investigating.

Trouble Focusing and Sustaining Attention

Some children find it very difficult to stay on task, follow multi-step directions, organise their work, or remember what they were asked to do moments ago. They may appear "dreamy" or easily distracted, or alternatively hyperactive and impulsive. These are common presentations of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), which affects approximately 1 in 20 Australian children.

It is important to note that attention difficulties can also arise from anxiety, sleep problems, sensory processing issues, or language difficulties. A thorough assessment — rather than assumptions — ensures the right support is put in place. Kids First psychologists are experienced in assessing and supporting children with attention and executive function challenges.

Reading and Writing Struggles

Learning to read and write is complex, and some children need more support than others. When a child in Year 1 or above is consistently struggling with letter-sound relationships, blending, reading fluency, spelling, or written expression, it is worth exploring whether dyslexia or other learning difficulties may be present.

Early identification and evidence-based intervention (such as structured literacy approaches) significantly improve outcomes for children with reading difficulties. Waiting until a child is "failing" at school before seeking support means missing years of potential progress.

A parent from Collaroy noticed that despite being bright and curious, her eight-year-old son was reading well below his peers and becoming distressed about school. A Kids First assessment identified dyslexia. With targeted literacy support and school collaboration, he made over a year's worth of reading progress in just one term.

Sign 5: Difficulty with Daily Living Skills

Occupational therapists describe daily living skills as the "occupations" of childhood — the everyday tasks that allow a child to participate in family life, school, and their community with independence and confidence.

When a child is significantly behind their peers in self-care tasks, it can affect their self-esteem, their ability to participate in social situations (like sleepovers or school camps), and the practical management of the entire family's daily routine.

Dressing, Feeding, and Hygiene

Common daily living challenges that may warrant OT support include: difficulty managing clothing fastenings (buttons, zips, shoelaces) well beyond the typical developmental age; significant mealtime difficulties related to food textures, sensory aversions, or utensil use; trouble with personal hygiene routines such as tooth-brushing or hair-washing; and an inability to manage a school bag, lunchbox, or personal belongings independently.

Independence and Participation

Beyond specific tasks, occupational therapy addresses a child's overall capacity for independence. When daily living difficulties prevent a child from joining friends, attending camps, or managing at school without constant adult support, early OT assessment can identify the underlying causes and build practical skills that last a lifetime.

How Kids First Can Help

If any of the signs in this guide resonated with you, the most important next step is to seek a professional assessment. Early intervention is not about labelling your child — it is about understanding them fully and giving them the right support at the right time.

A Multi-Disciplinary Approach

Kids First brings together speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychologists under one roof. This means your child's needs can be assessed and addressed holistically, with professionals who collaborate closely rather than working in isolation. Whether your child needs one type of support or a combination, we have the expertise to help.

Tailored Therapy Plans for Every Child

No two children are the same, and no two therapy plans at Kids First look alike. Every child begins with a thorough assessment, and goals are developed in close partnership with parents. Sessions are play-based, engaging, and carefully designed to build skills that transfer to real life at home, at school, and in the community.

Since 2007, Kids First has helped 19,536 children across Sydney's Northern Beaches develop the skills and confidence to thrive. We would love to help your child too.

Take the next step today. Contact Kids First Children's Services at kidsfirstservices.com.au or call our friendly team to discuss your child's needs and book an assessment. We support families from Manly to Mona Vale and across the Northern Beaches.