Children develop in so many ways and at different rates. They are not only physically growing but also learning new skills and developing socially and emotionally.
From the moment that your child is born, they are ready to interact with the world. Brain development is most rapid in preschool children and 90% of brain development has happened by the age of 5. Lots of things will influence how your child develops and no two children are the same.
Developmental Milestones
Milestones describe the developmental steps children take from birth through to adulthood.
All babies and children will change and learn new skills in their own time. No two children are the same so it is important not to get too focused on exactly when milestones are reached. Instead, knowing about milestones can be useful as a guide on whether your child is on track and give you ideas on how to support their development.
The Healthy Child Service focuses on the health and development of your child. We will get in touch to review your child’s development at the following key stages:
If you are concerned about your child's development it is important to seek support and advice. You can contact the Healthy Child Service team by calling Just One Number on 0300 300 0123 or texting Parentline on 07520 631590. Our opening hours are 8am-6pm Monday-Friday (excluding bank holidays) and 9am-1pm on Saturdays.
If you have concerns about your child's development, a member of our 0-19 team is able to complete an assessment of your child and refer to other services as needed, including: community paediatrician, speech and language therapy, hearing assessment, and vision assessment.
If your child attends school, nursery or a registered childminder, talk to them about your worries – they will be able to work with you to build your child’s skills and advise on any next steps needed.
To speak to other Norfolk parents and carers, you can join our online community forum below.
