The first five years of a child’s life are critical to brain development. Healthy brain development, in turn, impacts academic achievement and future success. Knowing that these first years build the foundation for the rest of a child’s life is a humbling fact.

Children grow and change at different rates. Some learn a new skill faster than others, while other children learn skills more slowly than most. Subtle differences in the acquisition of milestones are typical, but sometimes, slower development can be a sign of a problem that needs attention. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2014), 1 in 4 children are at risk of developmental delay.

THE GOOD NEWS

Fortunately, parents can now track their child’s development through the use of developmental screenings. Developmental screenings measure a child’s performance across 6 different domains:

• Communication - speech and language

• Gross Motor - arm, body, and leg movement

• Fine Motor - hand and finger movement

• Problem Solving - learning and playing

• Personal-Social - social play

• Social-Emotional - the experience, expression, and management of emotions and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships 

WHY USE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS?

There are multiple benefits when using developmental screenings. Parents can:

- celebrate their child’s milestones

- verify their child’s developmental progress

- identify possible delays and/or concerns

- enhance their child’s overall development through guidance by dedicated specialists

Many developmental delays and behavior-related concerns are not identified as early as they could be. Early identification is the key to a timely intervention, to help correct or mitigate a delay as quickly as possible.

SMARTSTART is pleased to offer you the opportunity to screen your child's development with standardized and reliable testing instruments created for ages 0 to 5 years. Let's work together to give your child a smart start!

citation: Birth to 5: watch me thrive! a primary care provider’s guide for developmental and behavioral screening. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Education; 2014