resources
DEVELOPMENTAL
SCREENINGS
What is early childhood development?
The early years of a child’s life are very important for their health and development as 90% of a child’s brain develops by age 5. Everyday experiences including interactions with parents, caregivers, family members, and friends, have a lasting impact on their health and ability to learn. Every child develops at their own pace and a developmental milestone tracker can help monitor their progress.
One method of supporting your child’s overall development is by completing the developmental questionnaire tool (or developmental screening), which can be done as early as 2 months. The developmental tool is not to be used to diagnose a child.
How can you check your child’s development?
The developmental questionnaire takes a quick look at your child’s strengths and any areas in which your child may need more help or practice. Developmental milestones are a set of age-specific skills that a child achieves by a certain age and provide guidance on what to expect by that age. A child’s overall development milestones are divided into four main categories:
- Gross and Fine Motor: how children move their bodies and hands.
- Communication: how to retain and speak a language.
- Personal-Social: how to express emotions effectively, follow rules and directions, and form positive, healthy relationships
- Problem Solving: how to learn and solve problems.
Understanding your child’s development is important.
- Monitoring your child’s development can help identify any developmental concerns or delays at an early age.
- Noticing any developmental delays or changes in behavior can inform what type of intervention and support are needed.
- Learning about your child’s development can support your child’s overall well-being.
Where can my child complete a developmental questionnaire?
- Inclusion Collaborative WarmLine | (408) 453-6651
- Pediatricians’ Office
- Early Childhood Education Programs (e.g. Child Care Program)
- Family Support Programs (e.g. Public Health Nurse, ParentChild+ Specialist)
What is the cost to complete a developmental questionnaire?
Developmental questionnaires are free.
What happens after a developmental questionnaire is completed?
- Families will review the developmental questionnaire with staff from the WarmLine, Early Childhood Education Programs, Family Support Programs, and their child’s pediatrician.
- Children with any developmental concerns can be connected to early intervention services.
- Families are encouraged to share their child’s questionnaire results with their child’s pediatricians.
- Families are encouraged to monitor their child’s progress using the developmental milestone checklist, which can be found below under educational resources.
Educational Resources for Parents/Caregivers
- Developmental Milestones
This checklist lets you monitor your child’s development through age 5. The checklist is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese. Click here for even more languages. - Are you concerned about your child’s development?
If you have concerns about your child’s development, you can find tips on how to talk to your child’s pediatrician in English and Spanish here. - Parent-Child Activities and Positive Parenting Topics
Find parent-child activities and explore positive parenting tips.
Community Resources for Parents/Caregivers
- Parents Helping Parents provides support, information, and training to help families raise loved ones of any age with any disability or diagnosis.
- The Santa Clara County Childcare Resource and Referral Program offers high-quality early learning experiences to help prepare young children for kindergarten and beyond.
- Early Start is an early intervention program that serves young children between the ages of 0 to 3, who are experiencing developmental delays.
- The Inclusion Collaborative Support WarmLine offers free support, information, and referrals for children of all ages who have disabilities and other needs.
- Findhelp connects you to home visiting programs, early childhood education resources, and other free or reduced-cost programs in your area.
- Home Visiting Programs are available to pregnant and parenting families in Santa Clara County. These programs provide support and education to parents at home with a trained professional (like a nurse or social worker).
