Watch me! Celebrating Milestones and Identifying Delays

Watch me! Celebrating Milestones and Identifying Delays

At Discovery World, supporting each child’s growth and development is at the heart of what we do. Our teachers are trained to observe age-appropriate developmental milestones and to identify areas where a child may need additional support. To do this thoughtfully, we maintain an individual portfolio for every child in our care. These portfolios are a developmental checklist of sorts and include observations, documentation, and examples of progress across various domains, such as communication, problem-solving, motor skills, and social-emotional development.

We encourage families to review their child’s portfolio in the classroom at any time. Twice a year, we provide a more formal summary during parent-teacher conferences, where we give insight not only to developmental tracking but also to the children’s strengths and areas of growth. These conversations help us share what we’re seeing in the classroom and allow families to ask questions, share their observations, and partner with us to support continued growth.

Our curriculum is intentionally designed to foster the development of key milestones. Activities are planned not only to spark curiosity and creativity, but also to build the foundational skills children need at each stage. For example, we might encourage toddlers to scoop with a spoon during mealtime or explore cause and effect during sensory play. As children get older, we guide them through more complex tasks, such as group collaboration, drawing shapes, or retelling stories—each linked to a specific developmental goal.

Key Milestones to Track

Here are just a few examples of milestones we support and monitor in our classrooms:

• At 6 months: Reaching for toys, recognizing familiar people, and making sounds.

   

• At 12 months: Saying simple words like “mama” or “dada,” putting items into containers, pulling up to stand.

   

• At 2 years: Using short sentences, running and climbing, identifying body parts, and noticing others’ emotions.

   

• At 4 years: Following multi-step directions, recognizing rhyming words, catching a ball, and comforting a peer.

While we celebrate all growth, we’re also mindful of early signs that may indicate a delay. Some of the common areas we monitor closely include:

• Language development – such as difficulty expressing wants or limited vocabulary.

   

• Cognitive development – including challenges with problem-solving or not meeting expected milestones.
• Social-emotional development – like difficulty regulating emotions or engaging with peers

  If a teacher notices something that might require further attention, we will always reach out to discuss observations and potential next steps. Sometimes this may include additional classroom support, and in some cases, we may recommend a conversation with your pediatrician or a referral for early intervention services.

  For families interested in monitoring progress at home, we recommend the Pathways app. It’s a free tool developed by pediatric professionals and aligned with CDC guidelines for children ages 0–6. It can be a helpful complement to what we’re doing at school, and it’s a great way for parents to better understand age-based expectations.

  We also use resources from the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. initiative in our work. These materials help guide observations, support early detection of delays, and provide developmentally appropriate activity ideas that families can use at home.

  As always, we’re here to support you. If you ever have questions about your child’s development, please don’t hesitate to connect with us. Developmental progress is a journey, and we are honored to be part of it with you.