Understanding Developmental Milestones
One of the most common questions that I hear from parents is “when will my child be able to…” I usually don’t have the answer right off the top of my head because that’s a lot to remember, but I always know where to refer them.
Whenever someone asks me about developmental milestones I give them the information for the CDC’s Developmental Milestones Checklists. These one page checklists are perfect for including in your newsletters or reviewing at conferences because they are easy to use and understand. They are available in English and Spanish, and the website also has photos and videos for each milestone so that families can see exactly what they should be looking for. The CDC has these available for the following ages:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- 9 months
- 1 year
- 18 months
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
The important thing to remember about developmental milestones is that they begin to occur within a specified age range, becoming increasingly difficult as the child gets older. Teachers and families should recognize that all children develop at their own pace, so a specific child’s development may vary.