Checking Development
Prevent Little Bumps From Becoming Big Hurdles
Parents become very skilled at noticing all the little changes that happen as their child begins to learn and grow. Occasionally, a child hits a small bump in one of the developmental areas and could benefit from a little help.
When children get help early it helps to prevent them from falling behind, and from a small bump becoming a larger hurdle. Regular check ups a good way to track your child’s development.
Check Early – Check Often
The early years (from birth to age 6) are an important time in your child’s life. How your child plays, learns, speaks and acts provides important clues about their development. As a parent or caregiver, you are the ‘expert’ about your child, as you spend the most time with them and understand them. When you know what typical milestones are for a child at a certain age, you have a way to track their development and recognize whether there are any concerns.
Early Developmental Check Ups
The Family Action Network (FAN) has produced this video, featuring the voices of parents, early childhood professionals and community leaders to give information on the importance of checking your child’s development ‘early and often’ through the early years period.
Find Early Developmental Check Ups Locations
When you participate in early check ups with your child, she or he will demonstrate their abilities in each of the five developmental areas. There are general age-based milestones that most children will pass through as they grow and learn. With regular developmental checkups, you have a way of tracking your child’s progress.
Where Can I Get Development Check Ups Done Locally?
- Kiro Wellness Clinic – 6 Month and 18 month Well Baby Check Up with Public Health Nurse
- Ages and Stages Clinics – Annually, Fall and Spring events
- Kootenay Family Place – Infant Development and Supported Child Development Program
- Check Up Distribution Centres – See accordion below
Find Check Early Check Often Check Up Distribution Centres
- Rossland Strong Start – A CBAL program
- Fruitvale Strong Start – A Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre program
- Four Winds Daycare – Rossland Group Licensed Childcare Centre
- Beaver Valley Nursery School – Preschool for 3-5 year olds in the Beaver Valley
- Building Beautiful Babies – A Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre program
- CCRR Trail Office – Resources for parents and daycare operators, including the toy lending library. A Trail Family and Individual Resource Centre program
- Castlegar and Area Locations – Click here
Early Developmental Check Up Tools
Early developmental check up tools gather information in five developmental areas:
Ages & Stages – Developmental Check Up Events
One of FAN’s key objectives is to raise awareness about the importance of regularly checking all children from birth to age five for developmental milestones. Our Ages and Stages events, offered in partnership with local early childhood professionals, provide a chance for local families to have a free, one hour appointment to check their child’s development. Families can ask questions during the appointment about topics like eating, sleeping, walking, behaviour and talking.
FAN is committed to offering two Ages and Stages events each year: a Fall Mobile Clinic and a Spring Trail Clinic.
Upcoming Developmental Check Up Events
Families appreciate the opportunity to connect to a professional and ask questions about topics like eating, sleeping, behaviour, walking and talking.
Our next Check Up Event will be in the Fall of 2025. Dates TBD.