The first 3 years of life, when the brain is developing and maturing, is the most intensive period for acquiring speech and language skills. These skills develop best in a world that is rich with sounds, sights, and consistent exposure to the speech and language of others. Read more ›
The intrinsic motivation to learn about the world around us begins in infancy. This type of motivation can either be encouraged or suppressed by the experiences adults provide for children. Read more ›
Find out about what skills help children learn, how they learn language, how they learn about feelings and relationships, how they learn about numbers, and how they become skillful at moving their bodies on All About Young Children, a resource for parents and caregivers provided by the California Department of Education. Read more ›
Talk, read, sing and play with your child every day. CDC’s amazing books can help! Baby’s Busy Day (Un día ocupado del bebé, en Español), Where is Bear? (¿Dónde Está Osito?, en Español), and Amazing Me (Soy Maravilloso, en Español), are fun for children and show you what to look for as your child grows. Read more ›
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects behavior, communication and social functioning. According to the latest figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1 in 68 children in the U.S. have ASD. Read more ›
From birth to 5 years, children should reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act and move.
As an early childhood educator, you are a valuable resource to parents! CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” (LTSAE) has free research-based, parent-friendly resources on child development to help you boost family engagement and your own professional development. Read more ›
Executive function and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. Children aren’t born with these skills—they are born with the potential to develop them. Read more ›
This 5-minute video provides an overview of Building the Brain’s “Air Traffic Control” System: How Early Experiences Shape the Development of Executive Function, the joint working paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child and the National Forum on Early Childhood Policy and Programs. Read more ›
Should you worry if your 2 and 1/2 year old isn’t talking? At this age, what’s typical is broadly defined. It’s important to keep track of your child’s milestones and seek professional guidance, if appropriate, to make sure delayed speech isn’t a sign of a more serious problem. Read more ›
