Early signs of arthritis can include joint pain, swelling, morning stiffness, and improvement with movement—features consistent with inflammation. In children, early arthritis may present more as behavioral changes than reported pain: limping, avoiding play, reluctance to climb stairs, or prolonged “warming up” in the morning. Joints may feel warm and tender, and range of motion can decrease. Fatigue and reduced appetite may accompany the inflammatory burden. A key operational threshold is persistence: if joint symptoms last longer than six weeks or occur in recurrent flares, evaluation for inflammatory arthritis is appropriate. Early diagnosis is one of the most powerful levers to reduce long-term joint damage and functional loss, supported by structured clinical assessment, targeted labs, and appropriate imaging.