Understanding Developmental Stages

Find resources to help parents understand children's developmental stages.

Ages and Stages
HealthyChildren.org
Gives parents information on developmental stages from pregnancy to age 21.

Ages and Stages
Invest in Kids^TM
Helps parents understand and encourage their child's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development in the first 5 years.

Developmental Assets
Search Institute
Outlines 40 developmental assets that are concrete, common sense, positive experiences and qualities essential to raising successful young people. Includes information on what you can do to build assets in children.

Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development
Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development
Covers over 30 topics related to the psychosocial development of the child, from conception to age 5, and presents the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.

For Parents
Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center, Office of Head Start
Offers parents resources on growth and development, everyday parenting, games and activities, and understanding the Head Start program.

Just In Time Parenting
Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
Resources geared toward children at different ages designed to provide the right information to parents at the right time. The website also includes a news section, a calendar of events, and frequently asked questions.

Learn the Signs, Act Early
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Lists developmental milestones for children from birth to 5 years to help parents measure their child's growth. Includes interactive tools for parents, fact sheets on developmental disabilities, and public awareness resources for health-care and childcare providers.

The Magic of Everyday Moments^® Campaign
ZERO TO THREE
In partnership with the Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, the campaign is designed to help caregivers understand and gain ideas for how to use simple, everyday moments to promote children's social, emotional, and intellectual development.

Parenting Tips
Parents as Teachers National Center
Tips on specific topics to promote positive child development in the first 5 years of a child's life; an eNewsletter tailored to a specific child's age is also available.

The Period of Purple Crying
National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome
Describes the point in a baby's life when they cry more than any other time and equips caregivers with strategies to soothe the baby and cope with stress.

What to Expect and When to Seek Help: Bright Futures Developmental Tools for Families and Providers
National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health (2006)
Presents four tools to assist parents and providers in understanding the different stages of child development, social and emotional milestones, and ways to identify child strengths and childrearing abilities. Information is provided on what to expect at different ages, along with checklists for indications that parents should seek help.