The developmental process is a lifelong journey, which begins at birth and continues throughout the life of a child. Broadly speaking, child development covers the full scope of skills that a child masters over their life span including development in:

• Gross motor skills- the ability to use large muscles of the body Fine motor skills- the ability to use small muscles of the body
• Cognitive skills- the ability to learn and problem solve
• Speech skills- understanding and using language, reading and communicating
• Social Emotional skills- interacting with others and mastering self-control

Observing and monitoring child development is an important tool to ensure that children meet their ‘developmental milestones’ in all domains.

The primary focus of developmental monitoring is tracking skills and behaviors appropriate for their age, skill level, and interests and  not just academic achievement or general development