Children of the 21st century: Slipping through the net

Abstract

This article briefly explores the literature focusing on early childhood development, parenting and the provision of health services to young families. It highlights a number of reasons why some children with subtle developmental difficulties are not identified until school age. Relevant to child health nurses are: a changing focus on early childhood health issues; low repeat attendance at child health clinics, and the reluctance of parents to seek assistance; the impact of socio-economic status, cultural and ideological influences; the challenges presented in using complex screening tools; the difficulty in detecting subtle developmental problems; the lack of involvement of parents in decision-making; and, the reluctance of both professionals and parents to ‘label’ children. Drawing attention to these issues is essential for child health nurses who have the opportunity to provide effective and timely assistance to families and young children.

Key Words:

• child health nurse
• early childhood development
• early detection
• early intervention
• parents
• developmental screening