Child
Development
We all want what’s best for our children. HMG LA is here for you to help your child thrive - you’re not alone. HMG LA’s Family Partners, all who have experience raising children with special needs, offer information, resources, and connections to free or low-cost programs directly in your community. Help Me Grow LA connects all families to free or low-cost programs to help your child’s development. HMG LA also provides tips and tools to support your child’s developmental milestones and growth.
As your child grows, he/she learns to eat, walk and talk. If they do so at predictable points in time, we say they are reaching their developmental milestones. Knowing about milestones can help you check that your child’s development is on-track and to celebrate their successes. Think of them as guidelines for what to expect. Each child develops and learns at their own pace, so tracking your child’s development can provide confidence that your child is progressing, or let you know if there may be a delay.
Track your child's milestones and share them with their doctor at every visit.
Visit the Early Start Tools page for more languages.
EARLY START TOOLSDevelopmental screenings are a set of questions your child’s pediatrician, doctor, nurse, or another professional such as their teacher, gives you to take a closer look at how your child is developing. This usually happens at the 9, 18 and 30-months well-child visit. As the expert of your child, you will complete the questions in the screening tool. If your child’s health care provider forgets to bring it up, or if you ever have a concern, it’s always okay to ask for a developmental screening. Contact your child’s doctor if you are concerned about any areas of your child’s development. It is important to talk with your child’s doctor to find out if your child’s possible delay may be from a health-related condition. The sooner you share your concerns, the earlier your child can get interventions that can help them catch up. If there are any concerns, a trained specialist may do a more in-depth check of their development.
Free Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) Screening: ASQ is part of the Easter Seals Make the First Five Count campaign! Parents can fill out a free ASQ questionnaire, a developmental screening tool, to see if their child’s developmental progress is on track. Easter Seals Online ASQ
For checklists, growth charts and tips for talking with your child's doctor, visit our Resources Page.
RESOURCES PAGE- Fran Goldfarb, HMG LA Community & Family Engagement Council member
