Speech or language concerns
You may be noticing fewer words, difficulty following simple directions, limited gestures, or slower communication growth than expected for your child’s age.
Developmental Screening for Toddlers and Young Children
If you’re wondering about speech, motor, social, or overall milestone progress, get clear next-step guidance based on your child’s age and concerns. Answer a few questions to explore whether child developmental screening may be helpful.
About 3–5 minutesPrivate assessmentNo long answers
About this assessment
Start a developmental screening assessment
Tell us what you’re noticing so we can provide personalized guidance on screening for developmental delays, milestone concerns, and when to seek pediatric developmental screening.
01
When developmental screening can help
Early developmental screening can be useful when a child seems to be missing milestones, communication is slower than expected, motor skills feel behind, or social and behavior patterns raise questions. It can also help when a pediatrician, teacher, or caregiver has suggested a closer look. Screening is not about labeling your child quickly—it’s a structured way to understand whether more observation, support, or follow-up may be appropriate.
02
Common reasons parents look for developmental milestone screening
Motor skill delays
Questions about crawling, walking, balance, hand use, coordination, or other physical milestones often lead families to seek screening for speech and motor delays.
Social, behavior, or autism-related concerns
Limited eye contact, reduced response to name, repetitive behaviors, or challenges with play and interaction can prompt autism and developmental screening conversations.
03
What developmental screening can tell you
Whether concerns match typical screening triggers
A screening can help identify whether the patterns you’re seeing are common reasons for follow-up with a pediatric provider or early intervention service.
Which developmental areas may need closer attention
It can highlight concerns related to language, motor development, learning, behavior, or social communication so you can focus on the right next step.
How soon to seek support
If you’re unsure when to get developmental screening, age, symptom pattern, and how long concerns have been present can help guide timing.
04
Why early attention matters
Parents are often the first to notice subtle changes or missed milestones. Acting early does not mean assuming the worst—it means gathering information while support can be most effective. Pediatric developmental screening is commonly used to decide whether reassurance, monitoring, or a more complete evaluation makes sense.
05
How to prepare for a screening conversation
Note specific examples
Write down the milestones, behaviors, or skills that concern you, including when you first noticed them and whether they are improving, staying the same, or becoming more noticeable.
Compare across settings
Think about what your child does at home, daycare, preschool, and with relatives. Patterns across settings can be helpful during child developmental screening.
Bring parent observations
A developmental screening questionnaire for parents often relies on your day-to-day observations, so your input is an important part of the process.
05
Frequently asked questions
What is developmental screening?
Developmental screening is a structured way to check whether a child’s skills and behaviors are developing as expected in areas like language, motor skills, learning, and social interaction. It helps identify whether follow-up or added support may be useful.
When should I get developmental screening for my child?
You may want to consider screening when you notice missed milestones, delayed speech, motor concerns, social differences, behavior changes, or if a pediatrician or teacher has raised concerns. If something feels off, it is reasonable to ask about screening early.
Is developmental screening the same as an autism screening?
Not exactly. General developmental screening looks across multiple areas of development, while autism screening focuses more specifically on social communication and behavior patterns associated with autism. Some children may benefit from both.
Can a parent complete part of the screening process?
Yes. Parent observations are often a key part of early developmental screening. A developmental screening questionnaire for parents can help organize what you’re seeing and support a more informed conversation with your child’s provider.
What if my toddler is only a little behind?
Even mild concerns can be worth discussing, especially in toddlers when development changes quickly. Screening can help determine whether your child likely needs monitoring, reassurance, or a referral for more support.
Personalized assessment
Get personalized guidance for developmental concerns
Answer a few questions about milestones, speech, motor skills, and behavior to see whether developmental screening may be the right next step for your child.