Developmental and Behavioral Assessment for 3-Year-Old Well-Child Exam

Medical and Developmental History

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking parents about their child's developmental concerns, such as "Is there anything your child is not doing that you think he or she should be able to do?" to identify potential developmental delays 1
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests inquiring about the child's ability to follow objects with their eyes, maintain fixation, and visual tracking abilities to assess visual development 2
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking parents about their child's coordination or movement issues, such as "Is there anything your child is doing that you are concerned about?" to identify potential motor skill delays 1
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests asking parents about their child's regression of skills, such as "Is there anything your child used to be able to do that he or she can no longer do?" to identify potential developmental regression 1

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends inquiring about family history of eye disorders or early childhood use of glasses in parents or siblings to assess potential genetic risks 2
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests asking about family composition, including who lives in the home and recent changes in family structure, to assess potential social risks 3
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screening for potential trauma exposure by asking "Has anything scary or concerning happened to you or your child since the last visit?" 4

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests inquiring about the child's response to sounds and language development to assess auditory function 5
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking parents about any observations regarding the quality of the child's vision and eye alignment to assess visual development 5
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests asking about any concerns regarding the child's ability to see or hear to identify potential sensory impairments 2

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking about tobacco exposure, including "Does anyone who provides care for your child smoke?" to assess potential health risks 6
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests inquiring about potential exposure to electronic nicotine delivery systems (vaping) to assess potential health risks 6

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking about diet and nutrition patterns, including typical meals, snacks, food preferences, and any allergies or intolerances to assess nutritional status 3

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests inquiring about sleep duration, bedtime routines, and any sleep disturbances to assess sleep quality 3
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking about difficulties falling or staying asleep, snoring, or bedwetting to identify potential sleep disorders 3

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking about behavior management challenges and discipline approaches to assess parental strategies 3

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests inquiring about home safety measures, including smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and gun safety if applicable to assess potential safety risks 3
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking about supervision during bathing and around water to assess potential drowning risks 3
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests asking about childproofing measures in the home to assess potential injury risks 3

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends asking about screen time habits, including television, computer, video games, and mobile devices to assess potential media exposure 3
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests inquiring about parental monitoring of media content to assess potential media risks 3

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends considering using standardized screening tools to identify potential developmental or behavioral concerns 4
The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests explaining procedures in simple, age-appropriate language and offering praise for cooperation to facilitate a successful examination 7