Developmental Evaluations

Developmental Evaluations
Ages 3-5

Understanding Your Child’s Path to Success

Ages 3 to 5 are a season of rapid growth. During this time, children are learning how to navigate the world, manage big emotions, and connect with others.

If you have concerns about your child’s development, social skills, or behavior, we provide the clarity you need to help them thrive. Our evaluations are play-based and low-pressure, designed to understand the "whole child" in an environment that feels natural and safe for them with clinicians who have worked with children of all ages in school and private settings. Early intervention is one of the best gifts you can give your child.

Is an Evaluation Right for Your Child?

Parents often seek an evaluation when they notice their child is struggling in ways that differ from their peers. We help you move from "wondering" to "knowing" by exploring:

Developmental Delays: Identifying why a child may be behind on milestones related to speech, motor skills, or complex play.
Socialization Challenges: Understanding difficulties with engaging peers, sharing, or adapting to the structured routines of a classroom.
"Big" Behaviors & Regulation: Gaining insight into sensory sensitivities, frequent meltdowns, or intense frustration that seems beyond the "terrible twos or threes."
Learning Profiles: Identifying unique strengths and areas where extra support may be needed before kindergarten.

Our Evaluation Process: A Step-by-Step Roadmap

We believe that a child is more than just a score on a test. To understand the "whole child," we gather information from multiple environments—home, school, and our office—to create a complete picture.

1. The Intake Appointment

We begin with a dedicated session for parents and guardians. This is a deep dive into your child’s history, your current observations, and the specific questions you hope to answer. We want to hear your story first.

2. Real-World Observation

If your child attends preschool or daycare, we aim to observe them in their natural element. Seeing how they interact with peers and navigate classroom routines provides invaluable context that an office visit alone cannot capture.

3. The "Play-Focused" Testing Day

This is the heart of the evaluation. Conducted in our office, this session is designed to feel like structured play. While your child engages with our clinicians, we are professionally evaluating:

Cognitive & Thinking Skills
Social & Emotional Development
Behavioral Regulation
Communication & Interaction

4. Comprehensive Data Gathering

Development happens everywhere. We provide parents and teachers with specialized forms to capture how your child functions in day-to-day life. This ensures our findings reflect their "real world" experience, not just a snapshot in time.

5. Analysis & Feedback Session

Once the data is gathered, we don't just hand you a stack of papers. We meet for a formal feedback session to review our findings in plain English. You will receive a personalized report that includes:

Clear Diagnostic Clarity: If appropriate, we can identify (or rule out) Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delays, or Intellectual Disabilities.
Early Indicators: Guidance on "what to watch for" regarding Learning Disorders or ADHD as your child grows.
A Personalized Roadmap: Specific, actionable recommendations and "next steps" for home and school. We can connect you to services in the community, such as ChildFind, Speech/Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy and more.

By the end of this process, you’ll have a deeper understanding of how your child’s mind works and exactly how to help them thrive in the years ahead.

We Know This is a Big Decision

Choosing to move forward with a developmental evaluation is a significant step, and it’s completely natural to have questions before you begin. You want to be sure this is the right path for your child and your family.

Before you commit to the process, we invite you to schedule a brief consultation call with one of our psychologists. We’ll listen to your concerns, explain how the evaluation might help, and help you decide if now is the right time to move forward. No pressure—just a professional conversation to help you find the clarity you’re looking for.

Learn more about our fees here.