Definition: Developmental monitoring is the ongoing process of observing and tracking how a child grows, learns, communicates, behaves, plays, interacts with others, and develops physical skills over time. It involves paying attention to developmental milestones and noticing new abilities as they emerge throughout early childhood.
According to the CDC, developmental monitoring looks at how a child grows and changes over time and whether the child is reaching expected developmental milestones in areas such as playing, learning, speaking, acting, and moving. Parents, family members, childcare providers, early childhood educators, and other caregivers can all participate in developmental monitoring. CDC
Why Developmental Monitoring Matters in Childcare
Childcare providers are in a particularly useful position to participate in developmental monitoring because they may observe children regularly across many different situations. Everyday childcare routines provide opportunities to notice how children communicate, solve problems, move their bodies, interact with other children, follow routines, manage emotions, and become increasingly independent.
Monitoring development can help caregivers recognize children’s accomplishments, understand what skills may develop next, communicate observations with families, and notice potential developmental concerns that may deserve further attention. The CDC specifically includes early childhood providers among the people who can participate in developmental monitoring. CDC
What Childcare Providers May Observe
Developmental monitoring can occur naturally during everyday activities such as free play, meals, story time, outdoor play, art activities, transitions, and interactions with other children. Observations may involve several developmental areas, including language and communication, cognitive development, social-emotional development, gross and fine motor development, play skills, and age-appropriate independence.
For example, a childcare provider might notice a child beginning to use more words during play, completing increasingly complicated puzzles, becoming more coordinated when climbing, joining other children in cooperative activities, or independently completing parts of a familiar daily routine.
These observations help create a broader picture of development over time rather than relying on a child’s performance during a single activity.
Developmental Monitoring vs. Developmental Screening
Developmental monitoring and developmental screening are related, but they are not the same process.
Developmental monitoring is generally an ongoing process in which parents, caregivers, educators, and others observe developmental progress and milestones. Developmental screening takes a more formal look at development using a research-based, validated screening instrument or questionnaire. CDC
Developmental monitoring therefore does not replace standardized developmental screening or professional evaluation. The CDC describes monitoring and screening as complementary approaches that can work together to help identify developmental concerns and connect children and families with appropriate support when needed. CDC
Example in a Childcare Setting
During several weeks of classroom activities, a childcare provider observes a preschool-aged child participating in story time, building with blocks, drawing pictures, playing outdoors, and interacting with classmates.
The provider might document observations such as the child’s ability to follow directions, communicate ideas, hold and use drawing materials, solve simple problems, participate in imaginative play, interact with peers, and perform increasingly coordinated movements.
Over time, these observations can help the provider and family recognize developmental progress and discuss questions or concerns when appropriate.
Developmental Monitoring and Families
Developmental monitoring can be particularly useful when it involves communication between families, childcare providers, educators, and healthcare professionals. A child’s behavior and abilities may look somewhat different across home, childcare, and other environments, so observations from multiple settings can provide useful context.
The CDC encourages families and providers to monitor developmental milestones and share developmental progress or concerns with a child’s healthcare provider. CDC
If a child is not meeting a milestone, has lost a previously acquired skill, or a parent or caregiver has concerns about development, the CDC recommends discussing those concerns with the child’s healthcare provider and asking about developmental screening. CDC
Related Terms
Developmental milestones, developmental screening, developmental domains, child observation, cognitive development, language development, social-emotional development, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, adaptive development, early intervention, early childhood development.
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