When you as a parent start to wonder, “Is my child like the other kids?”
Where to Start
It can oftentimes be an overwhelming experience. But knowing where to look to get help can also be very challenging. There are numerous resources online but the best place to start is always with your child’s pediatrician. Pediatricians are often the ones who have seen your child since birth, know your child’s medical history and typically keep documentation of your child’s milestone achievements.
How to Keep Track
Developmental milestones are a great way to keep track of your child's growth. The CDC website is a great resource with printable milestone sheets for your child from 2 months to 5 years. These milestones track your child’s social language development, cognitive development as well as fine and gross motor skills.
Keeping track of your child’s milestones can be essential in their development. The first 5 years of a child’s life are often very critical where children tend to absorb language and physical skills that stick with them for the rest of their lives. It’s important that milestones are met to ensure these skills do not lag and cause future difficulties for a child. If you ever have concerns related to your child’s developmental progress, have a sincere conversation with your pediatrician about this.
What are the Next Steps?
Pediatricians can often provide you with a referral to see a provider who specializes in the pediatric developmental space who can assess your child more in-depth and provide you with specific recommendations and appropriate referrals to suit your child’s developmental needs. Common referrals include providers who specialize in speech/language development, physical therapy for motor skills, behavioral specialists, and occupational therapists.
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