Engaging Families in Healthy Development

Parents are their child’s first teachers—and when they’re actively involved in promoting early development, the results are better outcomes and stronger parent–child bonds. Children with involved parents are more likely to get the support they need and be prepared for school and future success.

Adapted from the trusted Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ®) family of products, this toolkit of resources will help you engage families in nurturing their child’s developmental and social-emotional skills. Families will get:

• Tips and guidelines on supporting the healthy development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
• Pages of fun, easy, and low-cost learning activities that boost key developmental skills
• A quick guide to some of the most commonly asked questions about ASQ screening

Share these resources with the families you work with, and help them get their children off to the best start in life!

CONTENTS

Bright Beginnings: Supporting Your Infant’s Development ... 3

Beyond Babyhood: Supporting Your Toddler’s Development ... 9

Ready for School Success: Supporting Your Preschooler’s Development ... 15

ASQ for Parents: Your Quick Guide to ASQ Screening ... 21

Bright Beginnings: Supporting Your Infant’s Development

The first year with baby is filled with wonder.

From the day they are sent home from the hospital, new parents are filled with questions about their baby. If left unanswered, these questions can quickly turn into worries: Are they healthy? Are they on track? Am I doing enough? Too much? Am I even doing it right?

Thankfully, there is clear guidance for parents on what to look for in their child’s development, and when to alert a professional if there are concerns.

Skills to watch for

What sorts of developmental milestones should parents notice, when it comes to typically developing infants during the first year? Jane Squires, Ph.D., is an expert in early childhood development and early identification of delays. Squires is also lead author of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3). Below, Squires shares information from The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about some noteworthy skills and behaviors to watch for as your baby grows.

At 2 Months: calms down when spoken to or picked up; looks at your face; smiles when you talk or smile to them; makes sounds other than crying; reacts to loud sounds; watches you as you move; looks at a toy for several seconds; holds head up when on tummy; moves both arms and legs; opens hands briefly.

At 4 Months: chuckles (not yet a full laugh) when you try to make them laugh; looks at you, moves, or makes sounds to get or keep your attention; makes sounds back when you talk; turns head towards the sound of your voice; looks at hands with interest; holds head steady without support when being held; brings hands to mouth; pushes up onto elbows/forearms when on tummy.

At 6 Months: knows familiar people; likes to look at self in mirror; laughs; takes turns making sounds with you; makes squealing noises; puts things in their mouth to explore them; reaches to grab a toy they want; rolls from tummy to back; pushes up with straight arms when on tummy; leans on hands to support themselves when sitting.

Activities

HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN AND GROW!

Try these fun and easy activities with your 2-month-old—a great way to have fun together and encourage your child’s healthy development.

Gently shake a rattle

or another baby toy that makes a noise. Put it in your baby’s hand.

Have a “conversation”

back and forth with simple sounds that he can make.

Read simple books

to your baby. Even if he does not understand the story, he will enjoy being close and listening to you read.

Place a shatterproof mirror close

to your baby where she can see it. The mirror will provide visual stimulation.

Sing to your baby

even if you don’t do it well. Repetition of songs and lullabies helps your baby to learn and listen.

Beyond Babyhood: Supporting Your Toddler’s Development

As toddlers explore their abilities, begin to assert independence, and forge an identity, it is normal to push boundaries once in a while. Toddler development is where your baby becomes more of an individual, wanting to exercise more control over things.

Noteworthy Milestones

What sorts of developmental milestones should parents notice, when it comes to typically developing children between 1 and 3 years of age? Jane Squires, Ph.D., shares information from The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about some noteworthy skills and behaviors to watch for as your toddler grows.

At 1 year: waves “bye-bye”; calls a parent “mama” or “dada”; understands “no”; puts something in a container; looks for things they see you hide; pulls up to stand; walks, holding on to furniture; drinks from a cup without a lid; picks things up between thumb and pointer finger.

At 18 months: moves away from you, but looks to make sure you are close by; points to show you something interesting; tries to say three or more words besides “mama” or “dada”; follows one-step directions without gestures.

Activities

HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN AND GROW!

Try these fun and easy activities with your 18-month-old—a great way to have fun together and encourage your child’s healthy development.

Encourage pretend play.

Children love movement. Take him to the park to ride on rocking toys, swings, and small slides.

Toddlers will begin putting objects together.

Simple puzzles with knobs are great.

Play the “What’s that?”

game by pointing to clothing, toys, body parts, objects, or pictures and asking your toddler to name them.

Ready for School Success: Supporting Your Preschooler’s Development

New skills prepare 3s and 4s for school and beyond! As toddlers grow into their 3s and 4s, emotions begin to emerge and need managing. Independence becomes a new theme. Developmental milestones can come fast.

Meeting Milestones

Jane Squires, Ph.D., emphasizes that along with physical and cognitive development, children’s social-emotional skill development and competence is a particularly important indicator of school readiness.

At age 4: pretends to be something else during play; says sentences with four or more words; answers simple questions.

Activities

HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN AND GROW!

Try these fun and easy activities with your 4-year-old.

Invite your child to play a counting game.

Using a large piece of paper, make a simple game board with a straight path.

Play “bucket hoops.”

Have your child stand about 6 feet away and throw a medium-size ball at a large bucket.

Respond to your child’s needs

Understand your child's nonverbal communication and know how to respond. Understand your child's verbal communication and know how to respond. Support your child's emotional needs. Use positive comments and language with your child.

Provide a safe home and play environment for your child

Do a safety check at home to make it safe for your child. Provide access to regular medical and dental care for your child.