Developmental Milestones in Early Childhood
10/07/24
Developmental milestones are key skills that most children achieve as they grow, like smiling for the first time, taking their first steps, or saying their first words. These milestones help parents and child care providers track a child’s progress and ensure they are developing as expected. While every child is unique and may reach these milestones at different times, being aware developmental milestones allows families and caregivers to work together to provide the right support, ensuring that each child has the best opportunity to thrive.
What are Developmental Milestones?
Cleveland Clinic defines developmental milestones as “the behaviors that mark stages of typical growth”. While every child is different, most children hit these milestones around the same time as they develop. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) defines developmental milestones as “Skills such as taking a first step, smiling for the first time, and waving “bye bye”… Children reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act, and move.”. An example of developmental an infant making eye contact by 3 months old or a toddler using at least 50 words by 21 months.
There are 5 stages of development:
- Birth-18 months
- 18 months- 3 years
- 3-5 years
- 5-12 years
- 12 – 18 years
The CDC breaks down those stages into 12 milestones from birth through 5 years. These milestones are 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 15 months, 18 months, 2 years, 30 months, 3 years, 4 years, and 5 years. Professionals and families being aware of and understanding developmental milestones can greatly impact children. Knowing about developmental milestones can help to identify delays in development so that children and families can be linked to the appropriate resources.
Why are developmental milestones important in child care settings?
Developmental milestones are important in child care settings because they give guidance to child care professionals on the areas they should focus on for each child in their care. Professionals can see the gaps in development, communicate with families, and create plans to help the children get what they need in their development. It allows families, teachers, child care professionals, and physicians to collaborate in the best interest of the child. This is valuable because it will provide the child with the best care and plan to help them stay or get back on track in their development.
How can I incorporate developmental milestones in my program?
Making use of child screenings like the ASQ-3 or other research-based child screenings in your child care setting is a best practice for quality care. Screenings are done for each child in your care and are scored to show any areas of need in development. The child care program can provide resources for families with children who may have a delay in development. While paper copies of the ASQ are still acceptable, professionals and families can now take advantage of completing the ASQ-3 online using the Sparkler app.
Here are a few practical tips to get started:
- Provide families at your program with CDC’s digital online checklist to complete or have them download the CDC’s Milestones tracker app.
- Compare child screenings with the tracker to inform instructional activities in the child care setting and at home.
- Conduct conferences with families about the results of child screening or tracker activities to work collaboratively on monitoring the child’s development.
How can families can be involved in tracking developmental milestones?
The CDC’s “Learn the signs. Act early.” campaign provides a set of resources that families can use to track their child’s developmental milestones. Using this information, all parties can work together to inform physicians and teachers of gaps in their child’s development and devise a plan to close those gaps.
Sparkler is a free mobile app that helps caregivers promote children’s healthy development. Families can download the app to gain access to child development resources and activities as well as complete a child development screening, the ASQ-3 and ASQ-Social Emotional, to share with child care administrators and classroom teachers.
How can I learn more about developmental screenings and early childhood development?
Action for Children is offering several trainings on screenings and child development! To register, log in to OCCRRA and search for any of the classes below.
- (ST10145468) November 4, 2024, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Understanding the ITERS – Virtual
- (ST10145470) November 11, 2024, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Understanding the ECERS – Virtual
- (ST10145472) November 18, 2024, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) – Virtual
- (ST10146097) November 25, 2024, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
Selecting Curriculum – In-Person (Action for Children, 78 Jefferson Ave, Columbus, OH 43215)
Author: Janee Ruffin-Owens, Step Up to Quality Technical Assistance Coach at Action for Children
Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; care givers, educators, parents, and guardians. Learn More.