The first years of a child’s life are a period of astonishingly rapid growth, learning, and development, with a child’s brain developing more quickly than at any other time. Regular well visits during this time help us track your child’s development holistically, so we can provide important interventions and guidance focused on long-term benefits for your child’s health.
The team at Harbor Community Health Centers understands the critical importance of the early childhood years, providing comprehensive screening tools to help us spot potential problems as early as possible. Learn how our early childhood development program can help set the stage for your child’s healthy, happy life.
When we think of our child’s growth, we tend to think in terms of physical features, like height and weight. But your child’s brain is growing, too — in fact, 90% of your child’s brain growth happens by the time they reach their fifth birthday. That’s why the early childhood years are so critical when it comes to helping your child succeed in school, in social settings, in relationships, and even in their far-off career.
During these early years, a child’s brain forms neural connections that will influence how they think, learn, and interact with the world. Regular well-child visits play a crucial role in establishing healthy patterns and behaviors during this time, featuring screening tests that help track physical growth, speech and language progress, and social and emotional skills, as well as key skills necessary for learning.
Of course, in addition to tracking developmental skills, we’re also measuring and tracking your child’s height and weight, so we can identify potential issues in these key areas, as well. Together, childhood screenings provide an overall framework that can help us understand how your child is growing and developing on an individual level, as well as within their peer group.
While we can’t “see” into your child’s brain to track their development, we can monitor their progress by tracking key developmental milestones, like sitting, crawling, walking, and talking. While every child develops at their own pace, milestones offer a basic guideline that helps us determine if these skills are developing within an age range that’s considered normal based on large studies.
Specifically, we use data-driven tools like the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ®-3) and the M-CHAT-R® (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised). While the ASQ-3 focuses on communication, motor skills, problem-solving, and personal-social development, the M-CHAT uses a series of questions to help identify autism spectrum disorder during these early, critical years.
These tools can be very helpful in determining where additional guidance and support may be helpful, both for your child and for your family as a whole. When needed, our team can provide referrals to specialists in specific areas, like speech therapy, motor delay therapy, behavioral health, and support for issues like autism or dyslexia. Using a team-based approach ensures your child receives the right support at the right time.
Early childhood is a critical time for your child’s health and future — and it’s a critical time for parents and other family members, too. Regular well visits and developmental screenings support a healthier, happier future while also providing important peace of mind.
To learn more about our early childhood development program or to schedule a well visit or screening for your child, call 310-547-0202 to schedule an appointment with the Harbor Community Health Centers team at one of our two locations in San Pedro, California, today.
