During their child’s early years, most parents are keenly aware of changes in physical development, such as height and weight. But there are also important milestones children should reach in terms of how they play, learn, speak and act. Smiling for the first time, making eye contact, and pointing are a few of these developmental milestones.

Parents need to know about developmental milestones, as they are an important way to track a child’s overall development. Also, the earlier a child with a developmental delay receives help, the better chance the child has to achieve his or her full potential.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with a coalition of national partners, recently launched a public awareness campaign, “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” The campaign is designed to educate parents about childhood development, including early warning signs of autism and other developmental disorders, and promote early action among parents and health care professionals.

“By recognizing the signs of developmental disorders early, parents can seek effective treatments that can improve their child’s future,” said CDC Director Dr. Julie L. Gerberding.

As of now, about half of children with developmental disorders are not diagnosed until school age. Many signs of delay can be easy to see. For example, a 2-year-old should be able to: •point to an object when asked

•use two- to four-word sen

tences

•follow simple instructions

Every child is different and de

velops at his or her own pace, but

most children reach major mile

stones within a certain range of

time. Parents should learn the

milestones, but recognize that

their child might develop some

skills earlier and some later than

other children of the same age.

If parents suspect a delay, the

first step is to consult the child’s

doctor or healthcare professional.

Sometimes a parent’s concern

might be resolved by the passage

of time, but in many cases, taking

a “wait-and-see” approach could

delay opportunities to take help

ful action.

If parents still have concerns

after talking with a healthcare pro

fessional, they can seek a second

opinion. They could ask a pedia

trician specializing in child devel

opment or another qualified pro

fessional. Parents may also con

tact an early intervention agency

or public school.

Parents and healthcare profes

sionals can receive free materials,

available in English and Spanish,

as well as other resources and re

ferral information by calling (800)

CDC-INFO or by visiting the web

site at www.cdc.gov/ActEarly.

This story provided by North

American Precis Syndicate, Inc.