Your Child’s Development

Developmental Milestones

Parents eagerly anticipate those big moments—the first smile, the first word, the first step.  Those are just a few of the many, many developmental milestones your child will reach in the first five years of life.  While babies develop with amazing speed, it’s also important to remember all children do so at their own pace.  What should you look for at 3 months?  At 12 months?  By the time your child turns 4?  The following links give families a guideline of what to expect—as well as warning signs that there may be a developmental delay.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

American Academy of Pediatrics

A child’s development covers many different domains:  cognitive, language, gross motor, fine motor, and social/emotional skills.  The Early Childhood Investment Corporation has put together a guide for parents that focuses solely on the social and emotional development of children birth to five years old.  Click here to download the Social & Emotional Health and School Readiness.

Connections is a free program for Kent County families with children, ages 0-5, that provides parents with critical developmental information.  This is done through a series of surveys called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).  You can learn more about the ASQ and how you can sign up for the Connections program by going to the website of Family Futures or by calling 454-HOPE (4673).

What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Development

Every state in the country has an early intervention program for young children who are experiencing a developmental delay or who have a diagnosed disability.  In Michigan, it is called Early On, and it services children from birth to 36 months (3rd birthday).

Early On can provide a FREE in-home evaluation, and if needed, a service coordinator is also provided for free.  To learn more, go to www.1800earlyon.org or call 1-800-EARLY-ON.

FREE services may also be available to children three years or older who have a developmental delay or diagnosed disability.  To learn more about that, call your local school district.