Health and well-being (children and young people) Iechyd a llesiant (plant a phobl ifanc)
Changes in a child or young person that would give cause for concern Newidiadau mewn plentyn neu berson ifanc a fyddai’n peri pryder

All children develop at different rates and what is considered normal for a younger child may also be normal for an older child. Children constantly change and develop. There will be a lot of changes in behaviour and growth during adolescence, their time in school or at times when there are changes at home.

However, some changes will give cause for concern. It is important to recognise and respond to concerns in order to ensure that the child or young person receives the help and support needed. The earlier concerns are identified and reported, the sooner help and support can be put in place. Unreported concerns have a negative impact on outcomes for the child or young person.

Some causes for concern may include:

• development that is not consistent with expected milestones
• delays in one area of development not consistent with development in other areas
• regression e.g. a child reverting to wetting themselves, wanting a dummy
• change in behaviour e.g. becoming withdrawn, aggressive, showing signs of anxiety or depression
• development of fears or phobias
• less active, more lethargic than usual
• acting much older or younger than their age
• a change in eating, sleeping, toileting habits
• excessive weight gain or loss
• sensory difficulties
• developing sexualised behaviour inconsistent with their age
• injuries inconsistent with their age or day-to-day activities
• being unwilling to dress or undress in front of others when they have previously done so
• developing a speech disorder
• being dirty, unwashed or hungry
• irregular attendance at a setting or school.

Mae pob plentyn yn datblygu ar gyflymder gwahanol ac mae'n bosibl i'r hyn a ystyrir yn normal i blentyn iau hefyd fod yn normal i blentyn hŷn. Mae plant yn newid ac yn datblygu'n gyson. Bydd llawer o newidiadau mewn ymddygiad a thwf yn ystod y glasoed, yn ystod eu cyfnod yn yr ysgol neu ar adegau pan fydd newidiadau gartref.

Fodd bynnag, bydd rhai newidiadau'n peri pryder. Mae'n bwysig cydnabod pryderon ac ymateb iddynt er mwyn sicrhau bod y plentyn neu'r person ifanc yn cael y cymorth a'r gefnogaeth angenrheidiol. Po gynharaf y caiff pryderon eu nodi a'u rhannu, y cynharaf y gellir darparu cymorth a chefnogaeth. Mae pryderon na roddir gwybod amdanynt yn cael effaith negyddol ar ganlyniadau i'r plentyn neu'r person ifanc.

Ymhlith y pethau sy'n peri pryder mae:

• datblygiad nad yw'n gyson â'r cerrig milltir disgwyliedig
• oedi mewn un maes datblygu nad yw'n gyson â datblygiad mewn meysydd eraill
• atchweliad e.e. plentyn yn gwlychu ei hun neu am gael dymi unwaith eto
• newid mewn ymddygiad, e.e. mynd yn encilgar neu'n ymosodol, dangos arwyddion o orbryder neu iselder
• datblygu ofnau neu ffobiâu
• mynd yn llai egnïol neu'n fwy cysglyd nag arfer
• ymddwyn yn llawer hŷn neu iau na'i oedran
• newid mewn arferion bwyta, cysgu, mynd i'r toiled
• ennill neu golli gormod o bwysau
• anawsterau o ran y synhwyrau
• datblygu ymddygiad rhywiol sy'n anghyson â'i oedran
• anafiadau sy'n anghyson â'i oedran neu ei weithgareddau o ddydd i ddydd
• bod yn anfodlon gwisgo neu ddadwisgo o flaen pobl eraill er eu bod wedi gwneud hynny o'r blaen
• datblygu anhwylder lleferydd
• bod yn fudr, heb ymolchi neu'n llwglyd
• presenoldeb afreolaidd mewn lleoliad neu ysgol.

Observations of children support the practitioner to learn more about children and in turn, to work more effectively.

It is important that regular observations of children and young people are recorded for a number of reasons:

• To monitor development considering developmental norms.
• To monitor children’s progress in relation to curriculum frameworks.
• To identify strengths and weaknesses or any areas of development that need support or stretching.
• To identify changes in pattern of development.
• To identify when support from another professional may be needed.
• To identify a child’s interests which may enhance the learning process.
• To assess the effectiveness of activities in supporting development.
• To consider how children are using the environment.
• To help understand a child’s behaviour.
• To inform and adjust planning to meet the needs of children.
• To support the planning cycle of plan, implement and evaluate.
• To be able to share information with parents and inform them of a child’s progress. Practitioners should work in partnership with parents and use their knowledge of their child.
• To provide information to support transitions. Ideas can be shared about how best to help a child settle and activities and resources that may help them settle.
• To help practitioners reflect on their own performance, their impact on the child’s learning and behaviour.

Further information on observing children as part of the Foundation Phase can be found in the document ‘Observing Children’ https://bit.ly/2k75D3D

Mae arsylwi ar blant yn helpu'r ymarferydd i ddysgu mwy am blant ac, yn ei dro, i weithio'n fwy effeithiol.

Mae'n bwysig bod arsylwadau rheolaidd o blant a phobl ifanc yn cael eu cofnodi am nifer o resymau:

• Er mwyn monitro datblygiad gan ystyried normau datblygiadol.
• Er mwyn monitro cynnydd plant mewn perthynas â fframweithiau cwricwlwm.
• Er mwyn nodi cryfderau a gwendidau unrhyw feysydd datblygu y mae angen eu cefnogi neu eu hymestyn.
• Er mwyn nodi newidiadau mewn patrwm datblygiad.
• Er mwyn nodi pan all fod angen cymorth gan weithiwr proffesiynol arall.
• Er mwyn nodi diddordebau plentyn a all gyfoethogi'r broses ddysgu.
• Er mwyn asesu pa mor effeithiol yw gweithgareddau o ran cefnogi datblygiad.
• Er mwyn ystyried sut mae plant yn defnyddio'r amgylchedd.
• Er mwyn deall ymddygiad plentyn.
• Er mwyn llywio ac addasu gwaith cynllunio i ddiwallu anghenion plant.
• Er mwyn cefnogi'r cylch cynllunio, sef cynllunio, gweithredu a gwerthuso.
• Er mwyn gallu rhannu gwybodaeth â rhieni a rhoi gwybod iddynt am gynnydd plentyn. Dylai ymarferwyr weithio mewn partneriaeth â rhieni a defnyddio eu gwybodaeth am eu plentyn.
• Er mwyn darparu gwybodaeth i gefnogi cyfnodau o bontio. Gellir rhannu syniadau o ran y ffyrdd gorau o helpu plentyn i setlo a gweithgareddau ac adnoddau a all ei helpu i setlo.
• Er mwyn helpu ymarferwyr i fyfyrio ar eu perfformiad eu hunain ac ar eu heffaith ar y ffordd mae'r plentyn yn dysgu ac yn ymddwyn.

Mae rhagor o wybodaeth am arsylwi ar blant fel rhan o'r Cyfnod Sylfaen i'w gweld yn y ddogfen ‘Arsylwi ar Blant’ https://bit.ly/2k6YKPH