Early intervention for under-3s
Under three, the job is looking, requesting and play that goes back and forth. School-readiness sitting can wait. Letters can wait.
Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team — our Speech & Language Therapist, psychology and ABA staff. This page is awaiting its clinical review.
What “under 3” actually means here
If they are heading toward nursery and sitting is already the battle, that is school readiness. If they are one or two and not looking or requesting, this is the page. Red flags: one, two, three.
Autism in the first years
The plan is still communication and play, not “make them typical”. Mahnoor on autism. Programme wrap: autism support.
Three is still early
If they are already three and sitting is the next door, we still start from looking and requesting if those are the gap. School-readiness hours with Akasha come when a classroom is the actual next place.
Lost skills
Any loss of words, play or looking is same-week. Not a wait-and-see. Assessment: developmental assessment.
What “under 3s” is not
It is not school-readiness. Sitting on a chair is a later job. It is not five therapies a week. Two skills in one routine is the plan. Lost skills: same week, assessment.
The idea behind the work (in the books)
Under-threes are taught in play, with you in the room. A classroom sit is later.
AAP / CDC — learn the signs
A cluster of missed milestones, or a loss of skills, is a reason to look now. One late milestone on its own is often nothing.
NICE CG170 — parent mediation
For pre-school children the social-communication work is parent-mediated. That is why you stay in the room.
What the research tells us
This isn’t just our opinion — it’s grounded in published research. Here are a few findings from trusted, independent sources:
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that identifying autism and developmental differences early, and starting support sooner, improves communication, social and behavioural outcomes — with parents at the centre of effective programmes.
— American Academy of Pediatrics — Hyman, Levy and Myers, Pediatrics (2020). View sourceNICE CG170 recommends a play-based social-communication intervention with parents, carers and teachers to increase joint attention, engagement and reciprocal communication, adjusted to the child’s developmental level. For pre-school children it recommends parent mediation.
— NICE Clinical Guideline CG170 — Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: support and management. View source
Take a worksheet home
Print one sheet. Fill it in this week. Bring it to the consultation — a consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes.
First-words picture cards
Cut-out cards for late talkers. Name, wait, celebrate any try.
Requesting cards
Help, more, finished, stop, my turn, can I play — a faster ask than screaming.
Home practice log
One skill, a few minutes, one line of what happened. Bring it next time.
Talking home program (PDF)
Pauses at snack and bath.
Book a consultation
Contact owner Muhammad Salman Afzal first. No referral needed. A consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes.
Under 3s — questions parents ask
My child is 18 months and not talking. Is that this?
Often yes. Start with what you have noticed. Speech: speech therapy. Roman Urdu: bacha bolta nahi.
Do we need a diagnosis first?
No. Lost skills is same-week. Everything else can start from a worry.
Is this only for autism?
No. Late talking, delay, Down syndrome, hearing and speech — the first-years shape is the same: small skills in real routines.
They just turned three. Have we missed it?
No. Three is still early. The plan starts to look more like sitting if a classroom is the next door — school readiness.
Ask about under 3s
A short, friendly conversation is the best first step. Call, text or WhatsApp us — we’ll listen and guide you, with no pressure.
MPS Road, Block A Model Town, Multan (near Bloomfield Hall School, Street No. 2) · Mon–Fri, 2 PM – 6 PM