The early years of a child’s life are very important for his or her healthy development. As parents, you know your child best. Milford Kids Thrive Child Development section helps parents and caregivers learn more about child development (physical/cognitive/social-emotional/communication), track developmental milestones, and get tips on how to ensure your little one reaches their fullest potential. If you have concerns about your child’s development visit our screening and early supports page.
For parents, one of the greatest thrills is hearing your baby say, “mama” or “dada” for the first time…and even more exciting to start communicating with them when they begin speaking with that adorable “baby talk” and beyond! But what if they aren’t talking? Or what if they aren’t saying words correctly? Or maybe they…
There is nothing like sensory play to engage the whole child and boost learning and development! Plus, enjoying sensory activities with your young children strengthens bonds and provides an opportunity for some fun! For a list of easy and enjoyable sensory activities check out 12 Fun Activities that Engage Young Children’s Senses and Enhance Learning…
In 2021, New Hampshire’s Child Advocacy Centers provided services to over 2000 NH children and their families, conducted over 1500 forensic interviews, and provided families with over 2000 referrals for behavioral health and specialized medical services to help children who have experienced abuse HEAL, SURVIVE, and THRIVE!! Prevention is key to ending the cycle of…
Does your child gag at the sight, smell, touch, or taste of certain foods? Do they prefer to eat only certain textures or tastes? Did they not go through an oral stage as a baby/toddler where they mouthed and chewed on toys and other objects? Or maybe you find they excessively chew or mouth objects…
February is a great time to slow down and savor the final weeks of winter. What better time than the season of love to snuggle in with your littles and read an engaging picture book about love, kindness and friendship.❤️ Reading aloud to your child(ren) has a positive impact on their development and learning; it…
Fingerplays and hand rhymes are short poems, chants or songs that rhyme. The lyrics correspond to hand movements and pair the words with actions (think “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Pat-A-Cake” to name a few!) Using fingerplays and songs in early childhood is a great way to help young children learn language and help them sharpen…
How your child plays, learns, speaks, acts, and moves offers important clues about their development. Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. Every child is different of course…
Children develop at different rates. If you are concerned about your child’s development, developmental screening is a process that helps caregivers understand where children are in the various areas of development and whether they could benefit from support …