Our paediatricians have two articles in September’s edition of Australian Family Physician.  The Centre’s Director, Frank Oberklaid, and Kim Drever explain how GPs play an important role in monitoring child development. And Harriet Hiscock and Angela Luangrath discuss methods GPs can use for the early detection of child behavioural problems.

Developmental and behavioural problems in young children are common, with up to 15% of children under five years of age suffering difficulties in one or more areas. Many problems remain undetected until children are enrolled in educational settings such as kindergarten or schools.

In Is my child normal? Milestones and red flags for referral CCCH’s Professor Frank Oberklaid and Kim Drever recommend a broader strategy for general practitioners – developmental surveillance – to detect delays early, identify risk factors and intervene to optimise child development.

In Problem behaviour in children – An approach for general practice CCCH’s Associate Professor Harriet Hiscock and Angela Luangrath discuss methods for general practitioners to use when diagnosing, managing and referring children with behavioural difficulties.

Read both articles in the Child Development edition of Australian Family Physician, Vol 40, (9) 666-670, September 2011.