Release:
ATLANTA, Ga., (September 9, 2020) – The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is excited to announce the launch of a new Developmental Milestones website, http://development.decal.ga.gov. This website provides information and resources that allow families to easily follow their child’s developmental milestones and monitor their progress. Developmental milestones are skills that children, birth through five years old, should reach at particular ages. The milestones include skills in areas such as movement, play, getting along with others, learning and communication. Using tools like the Learn the Signs. Act Early developmental checklists, offered in both English and Spanish, families can monitor their child’s progress and access resources to help them
support their child’s development.
“Since all children develop on their own trajectory, many children may not meet all milestones at the same age or may meet some milestones at an earlier age,” said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. “One unique feature of the website is a tool that allows families to compare milestones for three different ages side-by-side. Using this tool, families can look across age ranges for a complete picture of their child’s development.” The website features milestones for ten different age groups, broken down into four different developmental domains. The milestones were developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and are research-based.
“At the click of a mouse families can also access several other free resources from various state and federal programs,” said Jennie Couture DECAL Director of Practice and Support Services. “Families can find support and information to use if they have a concern about their child’s development and they can learn more about many more materials and resources that are part of the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early initiative.” There is even a free app that can be downloaded on any mobile device to use for ongoing monitoring of a child’s development. Information about health care providers, early intervention, early childhood programs, nutrition and much more is also available.
Monitoring a young child’s development is a critical part of assuring their overall wellbeing. Our new Developmental Milestones website is a useful tool to help families with this task and provide information about supporting their child as they grow in their first 5 years.
About DECAL
The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning is responsible for meeting the child care and early education needs of Georgia’s children and their families. It administers the nationally recognized Georgia’s Pre-K Program; licenses child care centers and home-based child care; administers Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) Program and federal nutrition programs; and manages Quality Rated, Georgia’s community-powered child care rating system.
The department also houses the Head Start State Collaboration Office, distributes federal funding to enhance the quality and availability of child care, and works collaboratively with Georgia child care resource and referral agencies and organizations throughout the state to enhance early care and education. For more information, go to www.decal.ga.gov.
