NEW YORK
STATE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM
The New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP) is a public program for children under the age of three who are either suspected of having or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities. Potentially eligible children must be referred to their county’s municipality program to receive EIP services. For information on how to make a referral you can call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline telephone number (1-800-522-5006). EIP is funded by New York State and county governments. All EIP services are provided at no cost to parents. Health insurance may be used for approved services. When Early Intervention services are delivered in child care settings or community locations that require a fee, the parent is responsible for any associated costs with such access to child care or community locations. A child’s eligibility for the program can be determined only by state-approved evaluators under contract, and all services must be authorized by the county. The municipality will arrange for service providers based on the individualized needs of the child and family to deliver services through EIP authorized by the municipality.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT CHECKLIST
Young children learn and develop differently. One baby might walk earlier than another, while another baby might talk first. Often these differences will even out. Look at the checklist below for signs that your infant or toddler may need extra help. If you have concerns about your baby’s development, the earlier you get help the better. Early help does make a difference!
Here’s what you can expect your child to be doing from birth to age three. If you have concerns about your baby’s development, call your local Early Intervention Program.
AT 3 MONTHS OF AGE, A BABY SHOULD:
- Turn their head toward bright colors and lights
- No longer “cross their eyes” while trying to focus. They move both their eyes in the same direction at one time.
- Recognize bottle or breast
- Respond to their mother’s voice
- Make cooing sounds
- Bring their hands together
- Wiggle and kick with arms and legs
- Lift their head while lying on their stomach
- Become quiet in response to sound, especially to speech
- Smile
AT 6 MONTHS OF AGE, A BABY SHOULD:
- Follow moving objects with their eyes
- Turn toward the source of normal sound
- Reach for objects and pick them up
- Switch toys from one hand to the other
- Play with their toes
- Help hold the bottle during feeding
- Recognize familiar faces
- Imitate speech sounds
- Respond to soft sounds, especially talking
- Roll over
AT 12 MONTHS OF AGE, A BABY SHOULD:
- Get to a sitting position
- Pull to a standing position
- Stand briefly without support
- Crawl
- Imitate adults using a cup or telephone
- Play peek-a-boo and patty cake
- Wave bye-bye
- Put objects in a container
- Say at least one word
- Make \”ma-ma\” or \”da-da\” sounds
AT 18 MONTHS OF AGE, A BABY SHOULD:
- Like to push and pull objects
- Say at least six words
- Follow simple directions (\”Bring the ball\”)
- Pull off their shoes, socks and mittens
- Can point to a picture that you name in a book
- Feed themselves
- Make marks on paper with crayons
- Walk without help
- Walk backwards
- Point, make sounds, or try to use words to ask for things
- Say \”no,\” shake their head or push away things they don\’t want
AT 2 YEARS OF AGE, A BABY SHOULD:
- Use two- tothree-word sentences
- Say about 50 words
- Recognize familiar picturesKick a ball forward
- Feed themselves with a spoon
- Demand a lot of your attention
- Turn two or three pages together
- Like to imitate their parent
- Identify hair, eyes, ears, and nose by pointing
- Build a tower of four blocks
- Show affection
AT 3 YEARS OF AGE, A BABY SHOULD:
- Throw a ball overhand
- Ride a tricycle
- Put on their shoes
- Open the door
- Turn one page at a time
- Play with other children for a few minutes
- Repeat common rhymes
- Use three- to five-word sentences
- Name at least one color correctly