Newborns don’t come with an instructional manual; so, parenting is led by what we learned growing up and by some trial and error. Children each have their own personality, schedule, and growth patterns. No two children are the same, even within families. I have four daughters, and each has their own special personality traits. Some children walk at about one year, while others walk at 15 months. Other children begin talking right after their first birthday while others start to use words at around two years old. However, there are times when you might question your child’s growth and development. The Sparkler App is a wonderful tool to track your child’s development: https://www.ctoec.org/sparkler/. 

When parents show concern about their children's development, there are many resources to help them. First, a trip to your child’s doctor is always advised, to rule out any medical issues. Once any medical concerns are ruled out, parents can call the Connecticut Birth to Three (B23) Program (B23) at 1-800-505-7000 (http://www.birth23.org/).

When you call the B23 Program, they ask questions about your child’s development and send you an Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) for you to answer questions about your child and return the form to them. The Danbury Family Learning Center can help you fill out this form (203-797-4734). Afterwards, you return the ASQ form to the B23 staff, who review it and call you about the next steps. If necessary, an evaluator comes to your home for a short visit to evaluate your child’s growth, or a service provider is assigned to your family, and interventions are developed. 

Many times, parents will ask: are early interventions necessary and why not wait until the child is three or five years old? Research shows that during the first three years of life, brain cells grow the most. Therefore, it is important that your child be given all the advantages and support they need for optimal growth!! B23 providers can help that happen. I can speak from experience as I have seen many families with concerns about their child’s growth make the call to B23 and receive services. The B23 Provider worked confidentially with the family, by designing a plan for services, and many of the children were on target for their development within a few months. Other children transitioned to a 3-5 program and continued services.

If your child is older than three years, the Danbury Early Preschool Program at 203-797-4734 can help for children ages 3, 4, and 5. The Danbury schools offer free Play to Learn Playgroups during the week. If you don’t live in Danbury, call your local school district for further information. For more information to talk to through this process, or to join a playgroup, feel free to call 203-797-4734. I wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season.

Anne E. Mead, Ed. D. is the director of Family, School, and Community Partnerships for Danbury Public Schools. She can be reached at 203-830-6508 or by email at meadan@danburyu.k12.ct.us.