Functional developmental profile of children aged 3 to 5 years in the Javier Loyola parish, Cañar, Ecuador

ntegral child development during early childhood lays the foundation for learning, adaptation, and well-being across the life span, making its characterization in rural populations a priority. This study aimed to analyze the functional profile of child development in children aged 3 to 5 in the Javier Loyola parish, Azogues canton (Cañar, Ecuador). A quantitative, applied, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with 32 children selected through non-probabilistic convenience sampling; development was assessed using the CDC Learn the Signs. Act Early. Developmental Checklist, completed by parents or caregivers, and data were analyzed as frequencies and percentages in SPSS. Results showed that autonomy is the most consolidated dimension, while gross and fine motor skills still require stimulation of balance and visuomotor coordination; grammatical difficulties persist in language, and temporal concepts remain a challenge in cognition. The socioemotional area showed the lowest performance, with needs in sustaining conversations and accepting rules. It is concluded that the developmental profile of this rural population is heterogeneous and that these difficulties, possibly linked to the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, point to the need for contextualized early stimulation programs and systematic monitoring of child development.