Sara Lang

This tweet might be the most important one I’ve shared. Because I often post about child development, I’m fielding a growing number of questions from parents and teachers about specific developmental concerns. Here’s my very best advice: First, if you have a concern about your child’s development, speak to your pediatrician ASAP. This is such an important relationship to establish and your doctor is the only one qualified to offer specific advice/diagnoses about your child. Second, know that every state has a federally-funded early intervention system designed to support the needs of children ages birth-3 with disabilities and/or developmental delays. If you have ANY concern at all about your child’s development, have them screened. It’s COMPLETELY FREE - and if they qualify for services, those will be free too. Young children develop on their own unique timelines. And in most cases your concern won’t be warranted. But if a delay is identified, the faster you address it the better - and the greater the likelihood that professionals can intervene and get your child back on the right trajectory. So don’t wait. And if your child doesn’t qualify but your concern persists, get screened again. And again. See the tweet below for more information on how to access your state’s early intervention system. And share this information with all the new parents you know.