A to Z’s of Early Childhood
The science of child development and learning
G is for Growth and Development
Research shows that knowing about growth and development helps guide quality early learning experiences. Read below to locate and access resources to help stay informed about developmental milestones and understand how to best support children’s learning and development.
Strategies for Monitoring Children’s Growth and Development
Here are four strategies and tips for monitoring children’s growth and development.
- Visit websites like the Centers for Disease Control to see which important skills children learn from birth to age 5.
- Look at your state’s early learning foundations or standards to see what children are expected to learn at different ages.
- Watch videos that show what different skills look like.
- Use developmental checklists or a milestone tracker to track a child’s growth and development.
- Use education assessments or apps to track a child’s growth and development.
- Write down successes, questions, and concerns about the child’s growth and development.
- Share successes, questions, and concerns with others who interact regularly with the child, such as early learning and care providers.
- Schedule and attend routine well-child pediatrician visits to discuss the child’s growth and development.
- Share ideas with others who interact regularly with the child and ask them to share their ideas about how to support growth and development.
- Watch examples and read about how to support growth and development in everyday routines.
Other Resources
- Six Ideas for Family Child Care Providers
- Early Development and Well-Being
- Download the CDC Milestone Tracker app.
- Download the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework app.
- Download the CDC Milestone Tracker App
Dedicated to supporting the well-being of young children and their families, the Anita Zucker Center has engaged with its partners to launch an ambitious initiative designed to provide accessible and practical information about child development and learning to support parents, caregivers, professionals and policymakers.
The A to Z’s of Early Childhood is a trusted source that offers robust, quality and up-to-date information and resources informed by the science of early childhood development and learning – from short videos and quick tips to academic research and detailed policy briefs.