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Watch “The Story of Max” on YouTube

Watch “The Story of Max - Spanish” on YouTube

Developmental Milestones Checklists for Babies and Young Children

  • CDC’s Milestone Tracker App | CDC Milestones matter. Track your child’s milestones from age 2 months to 5 years with CDC’s easy-to-use illustrated checklists; get tips from CDC for encouraging your child’s development; and find out what to do if you are ever concerned about how your child is developing.
  • This set of age-based handouts includes a “What to Expect” chart for each age range, frequently asked questions, a research summary, and information about common parenting challenges for each age and stage.
  • This checklist is developed by Pathways.org. It lists the milestone checklist by age and within four topics: motor, sensory, communication, and feeding.
  • Stanford’s quick reference of developmental milestones is sorted by age and topics based on gross motor, fine motor, communication/social, and cognitive/adaptive development from birth to 5 years.
  • The Whole Child has created a guide that shows the ages by which most young children develop certain abilities. Information is sorted by Physical, Language, Social and Emotional categories.
  • Help Me Grow Minnesota has created a site that explains how babies develop at their own pace and each milestone shows a range of skills that are typically seen in infant development. The site explains how babies may not meet every milestone but can still be progressing normally. The milestone tracker comes in different languages.
  • Healthychildren.org by the American Academy of Pediatrics lists 10 Physical, Social, Emotional & Cognitive Milestones to Watch for as the child grows.
  • John Hopkins developmental milestones provide parents and caregivers examples of how they can support their child’s learning, development, and emotional security with lots of positive interaction and age-appropriate activities that practice specific skills.
  • Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive. encourages healthy child development, universal developmental and behavioral screening for young children, and support for the families and providers who care for them.

Early Start Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The California FAQ has been created to answer frequently asked questions related to access and referrals, services and supports, eligibility, and transition after age 3. If you need additional information about Early Start services or if you have additional questions call (800) 515-BABY or e-mail them at earlystart@dds.ca.gov.

Early Start Neighborhood

The Early Start Neighborhood provides a virtual community for Early Start professionals, partners, parents and caregivers seeking information, resources, training, and technical assistance on early intervention, Part C requirements, implementation, and evidence-based practices.

Early Start Community Infographic

This resource is an illustration of Early Start agencies, within the context of other service systems. QR codes provide links to websites with information about Early Start and other community agencies that provide services to young children and their families throughout California.

Available in: English PDF | Arabic PDF | Armenian PDF | Chinese PDF | Farsi PDF | Hmong | Korean PDF | Russian PDF | Spanish PDF

| Tagalog PDF | Vietnamese PDF

Adults sit at computers in a training room while an instructor stands at a screen.
A computer class

Early Start Family Resource Center Brochure

Parent-to-parent support through Family Resource Centers and Networks is a critical component of Early Start in California. This brochure introduces the statewide network of family resource centers, which are staffed by parents of children with special needs who actively collaborate with local regional centers and local education agencies to help parents and families access early intervention services.

Available in: English PDF | Arabic PDF | Russian PDF | Spanish PDF | Vietnamese PDF

Reasons for Concern Brochure

This resource presents information about risk factors, developmental milestones, and links to agencies that provide Early Start information, services, and supports for families of children with or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities.

Available in: English PDF | Arabic PDF | Chinese PDF | Hmong | Korean PDF | Russian PDF | Spanish PDF | Tagalog PDF

| Vietnamese PDF

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Learn the Signs. Act Early

Please go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Learn the Signs website for additional free downloadable resources. Act Early. website and choose from a variety of resources: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html.

Resources: Ages 3 and Older

Intake Department

Public Benefits (Search Tools)

Benefits.gov is an easy-to-use website to help citizens understand which benefit program they may be for and how to apply. Categories include: Disaster Relief; Family and Children’s Services; Financial Assistance; Food and Nutrition; Healthcare and Medical Assistance; Housing and Public Utilities; Immigration and Refugee Assistance; Social Security and more.

Most Commonly Requested Documents (MCRD) – The County of Los Angeles and its partners developed a two-sided information sheet that provides: 1) a list of the most common County administered programs/services and the required documents needed to apply for the programs/services; 2) website information and toll-free telephone numbers to obtain documents needed to apply for the programs/services.

YourBenefitsNow. is a website for Los Angeles County Residents to apply for and to view their benefits online. YourBenefitsNow. supports CalWorks, CalFresh, General Relief and MediCal applications. You can also schedule an in-person appointment for a NEW application.

Special Education

California Department of Education, Special Education Division website provides information and resources to serve the unique needs of persons with disabilities so that each person will meet or exceed high standards of achievement in academic and nonacademic skills.

The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) – Supporting the prevention and resolution of disputes through partnership and collaboration.

Disability Rights California – The Special Education Rights and Responsibilities (SERR) manual explains how to become eligible for special education, how to request and advocate for special education services, and what to do if you disagree with school districts.

Seeds of Partnership, Family Empowerment Centers (FEC) – Provide training and information to families of children and young adults with disabilities, between the ages of 3 and 22. Find a location near you.

Special Education Rights of Parents and Children under the by the California Department of EducationIn English–Spanish PDF–Simplified Chinese–Traditional Chinese–Filipino (Tagalog)–Vietnamese PDF

Team of Advocates for Special Kids (TASK) specializes in special education support for people with disabilities from birth to age 26 and their families. They support all disabilities, including mental illness, chronic health and medical conditions, and emotional challenges due to abuse or environmental trauma. In the area of assistive technology (AT), they serve all ages, including adults, and help families explore ways to use AT to promote learning, communication, and independence. Call (866) 828-8275 for a location near you.

U.S. Department of Education, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible individuals with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those between the ages of 2 – 21.