Communication
Sounds, gestures, understanding, words, and back-and-forth interaction.
Concern guide
Developmental milestones
Milestones describe skills most children can do by a certain age across play, learning, communication, behaviour, and movement. They help guide observation but do not diagnose a child.
01
Look across development
Development is more than one checklist.
Movement
Posture, balance, reaching, walking, coordination, and fine-motor actions.
Learning
Exploration, problem-solving, memory, play, and everyday skills.
Social and emotional
Connection, expression, regulation, shared attention, and participation.
02
What milestones can do
Use them to ask better questions.
Milestone information can help caregivers notice patterns, describe concerns, and decide when to start a professional conversation.
A child may develop unevenly across areas. A single missed item does not establish a condition, and completing every item does not rule out every concern.
03
When to discuss it
Caregiver concern matters.
- A milestone appears substantially later than expected.
- Several areas of development are causing concern.
- The child has lost a skill they previously used.
- A caregiver, teacher, or health professional sees a persistent pattern.
- The concern is affecting participation, communication, safety, or everyday life.
04
Prepare for an appointment
Bring a short timeline.
- Skills you have seen recently and the situations where they appear.
- Examples of what feels different or difficult.
- Pregnancy, birth, hearing, vision, health, and family context that may be relevant.
- Feedback from other regular caregivers or teachers.
- Any previous assessments and the questions you still have.
Sources consulted
Read the original guidance
CDC: Developmental MilestonesMilestones across how children play, learn, speak, act, and move.CDC: Milestone ChecklistsPractical checklists for observing development from infancy through age five.WHO: Nurturing CareA whole-child framework covering health, safety, responsive care, and early learning.AAP: Developmental Surveillance and ScreeningWhy ongoing observation and validated screening are different from diagnosis.