Parenting Pointers: Tracking Developmental Milestones

The first five years of every child’s life are a period of huge developmental advances. By age five, a child has begun to walk and talk, but there are also more subtle cognitive, social or language milestones that should be reached by this kindergarten. While every child develops at his or her own pace, caregivers should be regularly monitoring their child’s progress to rule out anything that might set them back when they’re ready to start school. 

Easter Seals is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of early intervention services, and they have a free online screening tool at makethefirstfivecount.org that can help you keep track of your child’s development.

 

The tool is designed to help parents monitor their child’s developmental milestones from birth to age 5 and includes questions about a child’s communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving and personal social skills. All parents are urged to take the free 15 minute screening– whether you expect your child has a developmental delay or not. Below are just some of the helpful questions included in the screening tool:

 

-          At two months, does your baby smile when you talk to her? Does your baby roll from his back to his tummy at eight months?

 

-          At 4-5 years, does your child use four- and five-word sentences? Does your child usually take turns and share with other children?

 

Results from the screening will help you see if your child's developmental progress is on time and alert you to concerns that you can discuss with your health care provider.

 

You can also watch this special video that features the personal stories of two families whose children have benefitted from early intervention services. Early identification and treatment are keys to a bright future for your child.

 

Help us make the first five count for children everywhere! Free online access to the ASQ is made possible by CVS Caremark Charitable Trust.