Child Development Checklists are crucial in monitoring and assessing a child's growth and development. Developmental milestones are skills and behaviours most children can typically do by a given age. Developmental checks are different to Observations/Aistear Assessments which are also very important but serve a different purpose. Developmental milestone checks can guide educators and parents in observing children's abilities by making them aware of what to look for. 

 

It is vital to remember that all children develop differently. For example, some children may reach certain milestones before or after the expected age. Not all children who miss a milestone will necessarily have a developmental delay but if a child is not hitting one or more developmental milestones, it is essential to consult with their parents/caregivers. Educators should continue regular observations and recommend they speak to the public health nurse or G.P. 

 

Educators must have a strong understanding of developmental milestones for the age of the children in their care. This knowledge should be used to plan activities and appropriate play experiences which support and promote children's developmental milestones at each stage. Once a child has achieved a milestone, it should still be regularly revisited as they use these milestones a stepping stone to achieve further milestones. Through informal observations, educators must be able to recognise if a child is not reaching their milestones. If there are concerns about a child, a developmental observation checklist should be completed without delay. Early identification and intervention are vital in maximising the child's potential for growth and developmental outcomes.

 

Using a developmental observation checklist ensures consistency between a given timeframe. This makes it easier to track a child's progress and identify areas where additional support may be required. It is also a helpful tool when consulting with parents and other professionals about the child's development. Educators must ensure that the checklists clearly state the child's name, date of observation and practitioners(s) signature and are kept in a safe and secure location. 

 

To support educators and service providers, Canavan Byrne have developed a comprehensive Developmental Observation Checklist Pack which is available to purchase from the Early Years Shop. These checklists are broken down into age categories based on typical developmental milestones. Each of these covers six areas of development as outlined below:

 

In addition to the developmental checklists, this pack contains corresponding visual aids for each of the age ranges. These visual aids can be printed, laminated and displayed in the relevant care rooms for staff to easily refer to. This pack also contains an informative user manual and a detailed document which outlines practical age-appropriate suggestions to support children in reaching their developmental milestones. Educators can easily incorporate these suggestions into the child's everyday routine. 

The Developmental Observation Checklist Pack is available here: