CDC - About Learn the Signs. Act Early - Parents Home

Information for Parents

As they grow, children are always learning new things. CDC has developed tools and information to help you keep track of your child’s development and get help if you’re concerned.

If You’re Concerned – Act Early!
If you’re worried that you child is not reaching milestones at the same time as other children the same age, visit our web page to find out what you can do to help.

Tools and Resources

Milestones
See milestones that children should reach from 3 months to 5 years of age, plus interactive tools to help keep track of the milestones.

Parent Resource Kit
The free Parent Resource Kit contains information on developmental milestones by age (3 months to 5 years), developmental screening, and a growth chart.

Positive Parenting Tips
Find tips for positive parenting and child safety according to the age groups below.

Infants 0-1 years old
Toddlers 1-2 years old
Toddlers 2-3 years old
Preschoolers 3-5 years old
Middle Childhood 6-8 years old
Middle Childhood 9-11 years old
Early Adolescence 12-14 years old
Middle Adolescence 15-17 years old

Health & Safety Tip

For information on preparing, responding to, and recovering from natural disasters, visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

For more tips, click here.

Links to Other Websites

CYFERnet
CYFERnet's Website brings together the best children, youth, and family resources of all the public land-grant universities in the country. Materials are carefully reviewed by college and university faculty.

Just in Time Parenting (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
Find information to help support you in caring for your child with a disability, or helping children with disabilities achieve their full potential.

Parent to Parent-USA
Parent to Parent programs provide emotional and informational support to families of children who have special needs most notably by matching parents seeking support with an experienced, trained 'Support Parent'.

State Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Your children may be eligible for free or low-cost health insurance. Every state in the nation has a health insurance program for infants, children and teens. The insurance is available to children in working families.
» Phone: 1-877-KIDS-NOW

Zero to Three
Science-based information and tools designed to help parents and caregivers nurture their young children’s development.

Disclaimer: We provide links to other web pages if you want to learn even more about a topic. Some of these pages are on the CDC website and others are on outside websites. Links to organizations outside of CDC are included for information only. CDC has no control over the information at these sites. The views and opinions of these organizations are not necessarily those of CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS).