Developmental delay is common and is often associated with long term problems in learning, behaviour and mental health. Early intervention before three years of age is crucial for improving long-term outcomes. With the rising prevalence of child developmental problems in Singapore, primary care physicians as part of a child developmental surveillance program, are well placed to identify children with developmental delays early and refer for further evaluation. Developmental surveillance is recommended at every well-child visit. Parents play an important role in their child's development and can monitor the development by completing the developmental checklists in the health booklet. This article aims to outline an approach to child development surveillance and screening for children 18 months to four years old in primary practice and accompanies the guidelines on Child Development Screening (CDS) developed by the Ministry of Health.

Behavioural problems in children are a relatively common occurrence but are a concern for parents. Such problems are often a reflection of the child's social stressors, environment and developmental state. Although a majority of behavioural problems are temporary, some may persist or are symptomatic of neurodevelopmental disorders or an underlying medical condition. Initial management of behaviour problems often involves helping parents to learn effective behaviour strategies to promote desirable behaviours in their children. This article highlights a general approach to evaluating and treating behavioural problems in children in the primary care setting. Sleep problems, eating disorders, and other emotional and developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are not within the scope of this article.