Written by Dr. Molly Sajady and Dr. Adam Langenfeld, developmental-behavioral pediatricians at Children’s Minnesota.
The human brain goes through the most rapid period of development from birth to 5 years of age. There are many ways families can support developing minds by creating safe and healthy environments for children to thrive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, “Learn the Signs, Act Early” outlines a variety of milestones for children 2 months to 5 years of age to help monitor developmental skills.
Due to the rapid development from infancy to preschool, children of this age have the greatest capacity to learn skills and adapt. It is important to consider ways to support developmental progress as early as possible. Developing a strong foundation for young kids to thrive can help with mental health resiliency, coping strategies, and social-emotional skill building into adolescence and adulthood. Keep reading to learn more about the milestones to look out for, signs that your child may be facing early challenges and ways to support them.
Reassuring developmental skills to watch for in toddler age
Below are some developmental skills or milestones to watch out for as your child hits toddler age. If you notice that they aren’t meeting these, it is important to seek additional support for early intervention to have a significant impact on their long-term well-being.
- Turning and looking when their name is called.
- Looking at familiar people in the eyes.
- Sharing enjoyment with social smiles or laughter.
- Showing and/or pointing to things they are interested in.
- Emerging pretend play and/or copying others’ actions.
- Showing interest in what others are doing.
- Seeking comfort from others when upset.
Head to the CDC website for more developmental milestones to keep a look out for as your child gets older.
Signs that a child may be demonstrating early challenges in the preschool age
Knowing the signs to look out for that your child may be facing some early challenges can help you determine when to seek additional support and get them help as early as possible.
- High energy or limited impulse control that may lead to safety risks and challenges (e.g. climbing on high surfaces, running in front of cars)
- Difficulty with transitions for routine activities and settling down for quiet activities.
- Significant distress in new situations or with unexpected changes in routines.
- Limited ability to initiate interactions with others.
What to do if you’re concerned about your child’s development
If there are signs of developmental differences from a young age, it is important to get help early to make a real difference. Families can ask their pediatrician for a referral to a specialist that does additional developmental assessments. These specialists can be pediatricians, neurologists or psychologists that specialize in the development of children’s brains.
What to do while waiting for additional developmental evaluations
Sometimes getting an appointment to see a specialist can take a long time. While waiting, below are some activities families can do together or get started on to support their child’s developing brain.
- Play. Play itself is brain building. It allows for back-and-forth interactions that regulate a child’s stress response. It is even better to get outside and play if possible and take advantage of the additional benefits of being in nature.
- Read together. Looking at books helps build both understanding and speaking skills. Narrating or explaining what kids are doing if they are not yet speaking helps build language pathways.
- Limit screen time. It is not recommended that children under 18-24 months of age have any screen time. Screen time impacts neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine, and young brains have a difficult time managing this rush of neurotransmitters. For children over 2 years of age, screen time should be limited to 1-2 hours per day of quality, monitored programming. Learn more about screen time and kids here.
- Connect with your local school district. Any family can join early childhood family education groups. For kids with developmental delays under 3 years, Help Me Grow in Minnesota can complete an evaluation and will often provide in-home support. For kids over 3 years, the school can determine eligibility for early childhood special education and individualized education plans.
- Check hearing abilities. Screen for hearing concerns if language is behind. Hearing loss may lead to decreased language skills. Audiology specialists can determine if a child can hear at certain voice levels using specialized methods. If a child is unable to cooperate with routine hearing screens, there are some additional options to complete an accurate screen in the specialty clinical setting.
- Talk to your primary care provider. Have conversations about the developmental differences and consider if it would be helpful to meet with a speech, occupational, and/or a physical therapist and access these insurance paid interventions.
- Consider contacting your county’s support services department. Sometimes there are programs that may be of assistance. Many families have been able to access personal care assistant support, paid parent hours, grants and other waivers under developmental disability services. This is often known as a Minnesota Choices Assessment in Minnesota.
