Peace of Mind

Many parents are concerned about their child's rate of development. Often parents will compare their child to his or her siblings, or to the children of friends or relatives. I listen to parents concerns that their child is not developing as quickly as someone else and I am able to share milestone charts and ASQ screenings to help them decide if their baby is actually atypical. Parents whose baby is developmentally different than their older siblings are even more aware of their milestones. For my families who now have a child with special needs, these comparisons can be devastating. Families are encouraged by the many resources that our program connects them with, and our encouragement that progress is being made thanks to their hard work. For parents who have a typically developing child after having a child with special needs, they are so excited and encouraged, often commenting that it is a completely different experience than they have had before. I recommend parents refer to the milestones charts to see what their child is doing, as well as what is coming up next that they can be working on to encourage their child's development.

JT