Stay engaged, stay curious: Tips for understanding developmental milestones

Many parents feel concerned or curious about their child’s developmental progress. If you visit your family pediatrician for regular checkups, rest assured that the doctor will be asking about and observing your child's milestones, so this is a great place to start. Parents, however, spend the most time with their children, and may notice nuances that others do not. Therefore, parents are in the best position to support and advocate if concerns crop up.

Whether out of curiosity or concern, if you’re a parent who wants to learn more about your child’s development, both the CDC and Minnesota have excellent resources available. These websites organize milestones by both age and developmental area, so it is easy and fast to get an overview that matches your interests.

Winona County offers a free Follow Along Program in which you may enroll your child (ages birth to three years). When my own children were small, I really enjoyed the questionnaires and activities involved in this program. It was great fun to have a front-row seat to learning about their developmental skills in a direct, hands-on way.

If you feel concerned enough about your child’s development between birth and five years old, there are a few things you can do to access free local support. Minnesota’s Help Me Grow website offers a quick and easy form for parents to use if they would like to refer their child (age birth to five years). You can also click my contact button below to ask more about this process. Early intervention gives children the support they need as quickly as possible, maximizing their opportunities for success now and in the future.

Additionally, all preschool-aged children between three and five years old should come and see us for their Early Childhood Screening. This is different from your child’s annual doctor’s appointments during these years. You can learn more and sign up here.

Finally, remember that all children develop at their own pace. Rather than hard deadlines, we prefer to consider developmental windows during which children are more likely to reach certain milestones. Still, if a child is working hard in one area, another area may slow down for a short time. All of this is normal. Stay curious and engaged in your child’s development. Have fun, and reach out if you have questions or concerns. We’re here to help!