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A friendly YouTube video describing why a child's development is so important and will hopefully allow you to better understand why you should be "in-the-know" with your child's development and any possible needs they may have.

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The Importance of Early Child Development

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From the US Department of Education

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Recommendations and Resources for Families

Free, federally-supported resources are available to help families learn about child development and help them to support their child. Other resources listed below help families advocate for and improve inclusive practices in early childhood programs. Please note that this is not a complete list of resources, and we will continue to add more as they become available.

Families may also be interested in seeing resources available for States and local programs and providers. Links to these resources are located in the navigation box to the right.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Learn the Signs. Act Early.
This CDC resource for parents help them track how their child plays, learns, speaks, acts and moves, from birth through age five. It also helps parents act early by learning what to do if they have concerns about their children's development.

Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR)
CPIR is a key resource for families of children with disabilities. It connects parents to their state's resource centers so that parents can find local information about disabilities, early intervention (for babies and toddlers), school services (for school-aged children), therapy, policies, and transportation.

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)-Family Tools
CSEFEL focuses on promoting children's social emotional development and school readiness. Free Parent Training Modules teach families how to support their child's social and emotional development.

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center's (ECTA's) Inclusion Resources
ECTA supports states in providing services for infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities and their families. They designed this page to help families understand their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( IDEA), connect with other families, and find high-quality resources related to caring for infants, toddlers and young children with disabilities.

National Professional Development Center for Inclusion (NPDCI)-Resources for Families
NPDCI's goal is to assist states in developing an integrated professional development system that supports high-quality inclusion. Their featured video is for families who are involved or who want to be involved in their state's planning process for developing integrated professional development. It describes for families the steps that states can take to meaningfully support and include families in the planning process.

Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI)-Families Community
TACSEI uses evidence-based practices for improving the social-emotional outcomes of young children. TACSEI offers many tip sheets, videos, and links to help young children develop, reduce challenging behavior in young children, and to support families.

Families can find out about more resources for families including programs that support young children.

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public relations; school reform; early childhood education; early intervention; early learning; inclusion

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Recommendations and Resources for Families Free, federally-supported resources are available to help families learn about child development and help them to support their child. Other resources listed below help families advocate for and improve inclusive practices in early childhood programs. Please note that this is not a complete list of resources, and we will continue to add more as they become available.

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From the CDC

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving "bye bye" are called developmental milestones. Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move.

Click on the age of your child to see the milestones:

"Learn the Signs. Act Early." materials are not a substitute for standardized, validated developmental screening tools.

Special acknowledgments to the subject matter experts and others who contributed to the review of data and selection of developmental milestones, especially Paul H. Lipkin, MD, Michelle M. Macias, MD, Julie F. Pajek, PhD, Judith S. Shaw, EdD, MPH, RN, Karnesha Slaughter, MPH, Jane K. Squires, PhD, Toni M. Whitaker, MD, Lisa D. Wiggins, PhD, and Jennifer M. Zubler, MD.
Sincere gratitude to Natalia Benza, MD and José O. Rodríguez, MD, MBA for their thoughtful review of the Spanish-language translation of these milestones.

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“learn the signs. act early.” milestones

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Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Track your child's milestones and talk with your child's doctor at every visit about the milestones your child has reached

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Concerned about your child's development? 

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Concerned about your child's development? 

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This article from the CDC provides a milestone checklist that you can complete with your child from birth to age 3 and can help you decided what you need to do if your child does not check-off on everything on the list.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Talk to Your Child's Doctor

As a parent, you know your child best. If your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or if you think there could be a problem with the way your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves talk to your child's doctor and share your concerns. Don't wait. Acting early can make a real difference!

Complete a Milestone Checklist for Your Child's Age

Ask About Developmental Screening

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be screened for general development using standardized, validated tools at 9, 18, or 30 months and for autism at 18 and 24 months or whenever a parent or provider has a concern. Ask the doctor about your child's developmental screening.

Easterseals, provides parents with FREE access to the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition, one of many general developmental screening tools. Click here to learn more and take the screening. Be sure to share the completed questionnaire and results with your child's doctor.
Learn more about developmental screening >

If you or the doctor thinks there might be a delay, ask the doctor for a referral to a specialist who can do a more in-depth evaluation of your child.

Doctors your child might be referred to include:

Developmental pediatricians. These doctors have special training in child development and children with special needs.

Child neurologists. These doctors work on the brain, spine, and nerves.

Child psychologists or psychiatrists. These doctors know about the human mind.

At the same time as you ask the doctor for a referral to a specialist, call your state's public early childhood system to request a free evaluation to find out if your child qualifies for intervention services. This is sometimes called a Child Find evaluation. You do not need to wait for a doctor's referral or a medical diagnosis to make this call. Where to call for a free evaluation from the state depends on your child's age:

Children 0-3 Years Old

If your child is younger than 3 years old, contact your local early intervention system.

Find your state's early intervention contact information here.
Learn more about early intervention >
Children 3 Years Old or Older

If your child is age 3 or older, call any local public elementary school (even if your child does not go to school there) and say: "I have concerns about my child's development and I would like to have my child evaluated through the school system for preschool special education services."

If the person who answers is unfamiliar with preschool special education, ask to speak with the school or district's special education director.
Learn more about this process

Why Act Early?

If you're concerned about your child's development, don't wait. Acting early on developmental concerns can make a real difference for your child and you.
Learn more >

What to Say

If you're not sure what to say when you talk with your child's doctor or when you call to request an evaluation, visit our web page for some tips.
Tips for what to say >
While You Wait

If you have to wait to get an appointment to see a specialist or start intervention services, know that there are some simple things you can do today and everyday to help your child's development.
Tips for while you wait >
Recordkeeping Worksheet

Use this recordkeeping worksheet to help you keep track of your notes.
Sample recordkeeping worksheet >

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If You're Concerned About Your Child's Development

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If your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or if you have concerns about development, talk to your child's doctor, share your concerns, and ask for a developmental screening.

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Incredible growth occurs during the first three years of a child's life. There are many things you can do to support and nurture healthy development during this time. Below, we've listed some specific activities to help a 1-month-old baby develop and grow.

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Play is how your young child learns. Don't believe me? Check out this website!

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When your child plays, they learn about them self and their surroundings. This includes how to coordinate their body movements, talk with friends, apply rules, and more. But the learning process is even broader than this.

Play is more than you think; it is a way for your child to familiarize themselves with the world while exploring and testing their own limits. At the same time, they are engaged in an activity that provides them enjoyment or amusement. Play helps them learn about things such as the earthworm they find on the ground, how to avoid arguments with others, their favorite make believe character during role play or that mom does not like when they yell inside the house. Promoting playtime helps your child learn about their skills and abilities, while interacting with others and their surroundings.

Play begins early. When baby studies and interacts with the things around them, whether this is by putting a toy in their mouth or touching a new textured object, they are "playing." Part of exploring their environment also includes figuring out how to get your attention such as when baby coos or babbles at you. It is important to remember playtime helps baby to continuously master and reinforce concepts that become important milestones.

Your child will continue to play throughout childhood and you may be surprised at the number of skills they develop such as:

Learning to exercise problem solving skills

Showing an ability to think flexibly

Practicing processing their emotions

Facing their fears

Trying new things without fear of mistake

Older children also gain something additional while they play-they discover their own interests and passions. Your child may find they have a love for a specific activity such as art or acting, or possibly for an animal or character. Playtime will encourage them to continue exploring their own interests and build skills they will use in the future.

All children should have time for play. It is the building blocks for establishing confidence, coping abilities, flexibility and positive interactions with others. Through play, your child will be able to apply these skills as they grow into a young adult.

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The Importance of Play in Childhood Development | Pathways.org

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When your child plays, they learn about them self and their surroundings. This includes how to coordinate their body movements, talk with friends, apply rules, and more. But the learning process is even broader than this. Play is more than you think; it is a way for your child to familiarize themselves with the world while exploring and testing their own limits.

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Here are the stages of play in which your child will engage in. This is a list of the ages and stages for your child.