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Infant
Development Program
Dunn
County
for children ages birth to 3 years
What is the Infant Development Program?
A program for young children who have special needs or delayed development. Parents work with the teachers and therapists to help their child learn and grow.
Who is the Infant Development Program for?
Any Dunn County child from birth to age three is eligible for an evaluation if the parents are concerned about their child, The Infant Program staff observes the child's movement, speech, learning, behavior, and self help skills (eating, dressing, toileting).
How can a child be enrolled in the Infant Development Program?
Referrals to the Infant Program can be made by parents, physicians, nurses, social workers, teachers, friends, day care staff or anyone who is involved with the child and is concerned about their development. The child is evaluated to see if there is a need that qualifies them for the program. If the child qualifies, a plan is developed with the parents. Each child's program is different depending on the child's strengths and needs. Services are offered at no cost to the families.
What services are available?
Education
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Home visits
Family Education
Group preschool programs
Lending of toys, books, equipment
Referral and coordination of services
Why is the Infant Program important?
The early years are the time when a child is doing the most growing and learning. Encouraging your child now will help development in all areas and minimize any problems. We build on the child's best areas and work to improve areas that are weaker. We work closely with each parent to help their child do the best, as the parents are a child's first and most important teachers.
Every child grows and learns in his or her own way. Use this guide to see what your child can do. If your child does not do some of the things listed for his or her age group, you may want to call us for more information.
3 Months
- Lifts head when placed on tummy
- Smiles and laughs
- Makes sounds when talked to
- Looks at hands and plays with fingers
- Stares at movement and light
- Likes to be held and rocked
- Reaches and feels with open hands
6 Months
- Rolls from stomach to back
- Makes sounds like ba, da, ma
- Reaches for, holds and shakes toys
- Brings hands and toys to mouth
- Turns head in direction of sounds
- Kicks and laughs
- Sits with support
- Looks at faces and recognizes familiar people
9 Months
- Crawls on belly, sits alone well
- Finger feeds
- Waves bye bye, plays patty cake & peek a boo
12 Months
- Pulls up to and walks along furniture
- Gets down from standing
- Follows some simple directions (come here, give it to me)
- Looks at objects when named (bottle, doggy, mama, daddy)
- Says first words
- Puts things into containers
18 Months
- Walks alone, climbs onto furniture
- Knows some body parts (ear. nose, eyes)
- Drinks from a cup
- Has 20-30 word vocabulary
- Gets into everything
- Turns pages of a book one at a time
- Plays well with a variety of toys
24 Months
- Points to pictures when asked
- Uses 50 or more words and puts words together
- Runs
- Brings objects from another room when asked
- Eats with a spoon
30 months (2 1/2 years)
- Names many pictures and objects
- Jumps with both feet off the floor together
- Uses sentences of 3 or more words
- Asks questions
- Enjoys painting, coloring, pasting & play dough
- Sings songs and repeats rhymes
- Kicks a large ball
- Walks up and down stairs
If you have concerns about these or any other area of your child's development, please don't wait. For more information, or to make a referral, contact:
Infant Development Program
Dunn County Human Services
808 Main St. P.O. Box 470
Menonomie, WI 54751
715-232-6130 or 715-232-1116
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign