Early Learning Disability Detection Is Essential

My daughter is in kindergarten. When I watch the other children playing, she seems more awkward in the way she does things. Do you have a checklist that I could use to see if there is any kind of problem? Is it possible that she already has a learning disability? -- Need to Know
Answer: Every child has his or her own timetable for developing skills. Nevertheless, lags in the mastery of skills, even with children as young as 4 or 5, should not be ignored. Keep a careful record of your observations to share with your child's teachers and doctor to determine if she needs any extra services or support.
Here is a checklist from the National Center for Learning Disabilities that deals with gross and fine motor skills. When using it, think of your child's behavior during at least the past six months.
--Appears awkward and clumsy, dropping, spilling or knocking things over.
--Has trouble with buttons, hooks, snaps, zippers and learning to tie shoes.
--Creates artwork that is immature for age.
--Demonstrates poor ability to color or write "within the lines."
--Grasps pencil awkwardly, resulting in poor handwriting.
--Experiences difficulty using small objects or items that demand precision (i.e., LEGOs, puzzle pieces, tweezers, scissors).
--Dislikes and avoids writing and drawing tasks.
Remember that this motor-skills checklist does not diagnose that a child has a learning disability. However, it might show you some areas in which your daughter might need some extra help and guidance. If it does, don't wait to seek assistance from school personnel and other professionals. The earlier that she gets any needed help the better.
Readers can find the complete learning-disabilities checklist at www.ncld.org/content/view/302/326 by scrolling down the page.