Child Development and Learning Resources

Understanding Development

Your child’s brain and body continue to grow and develop rapidly during the preschool years! There continues to be a wide range of what is considered “normal” or typical development in the preschool years. It can be tempting to compare your child to an older sibling, a cousin, or the child of a family friend, but this can be misleading due to these developmental ranges. The resources in this section will help you understand what to expect at different age ranges  so that you can feel more confident in knowing if your child’s development is on track.

• 2 - 3 Years

• 4 - 6 Years

• How Does Your Child Hear and Talk? - 3 to 4 Years

• How Does Your Child Hear and Talk? - 4 to 5 Years

Parenting, Health, and Safety Resources

Children in this age range are often very active and curious. It is great fun to see their personalities grow and their knowledge about the world expand, but this can also be a challenging period for parents. Every child is different and each new day continues to be a new adventure as children strive for independence! In this section, we’ve included information from trusted sources to help take some of the guess-work out of your quest for answers! 

• Positive Parenting 3 to 5 Years Old

• Parenting Essentials for Toddlers and Preschoolers

• All About Sleep

• Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet

• Bedwetting

• Tips for Picky Eaters

• How to Help Child Manage Fears

• Managing Challenging Behaviors

• Taming Tempers

• Physical Activities for Preschoolers

• Gender Identity Development

• Sexual Behaviors in Preschoolers: What’s Normal and What’s Not

• Preventing Childhood Injuries

Play and Early Learning Activities

During this period of development, children’s early academic skills begin to emerge. It’s important to remember that play is still a very important learning tool for your child! Follow your child’s lead as you infuse learning skills into play and other every day activities. Just think of all the things you can count at the dinner table or when you’re out for a walk! Encourage a variety of hands-on activities and make reading a daily priority. 

• The Power of Play

• 10 No-Cost, Screen-Free Play Activities

• Help Your Child Build Fine Motor Skills

• PBS Kids - 3-Year-Olds

• PBS Kids - 4-Year-Olds

• PBS Kids - 5-Year-Olds

• Helping Your Child Succeed In Preschool: Building the Habit of Good Attendance

What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Development 

There is a wide range of what is considered “normal” in child development. This is especially true when children are younger. Before diving into specific areas of concern, please consider reviewing the development sections of this website to anchor your understanding of what’s typical for your child’s age. If you believe that an area of your child’s development might be behind schedule, a developmental screening can help you learn more. Your child’s pediatrician can be helpful in arranging for a developmental screening. Even if your child is not yet enrolled in school, you can contact the school district to discuss your concerns and discuss screening or evaluation options. 

Areas of Concern

• Preschoolers and ADHD

• Autism

• Communication

• Motor Development

Developmental Screening and Evaluation

Family and Community Supports

Parenting is a tough job! If you’re going through a rough time, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.  

• You Are Not Alone: Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

• National Parent Helpline: 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)

• The Parenting Network of Milwaukee

• Milwaukee County Health and Human Services

• Mental Health America - Milwaukee Resource Directory

• Center for Suicide Awareness Hopeline 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

School Supports

There are a range of supports for student’s academic, social, and emotional development within the school. If you are concerned that your child may need more support, please discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher(s). They know your child well and are also familiar with a range of development at your student’s age range. If your child’s teacher needs more support, they may reach out to a reading or math specialist or a student services team member (school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker). You can also contact student services team members directly if you have specific concerns you would like to discuss or if you need help locating support in the community. If you are concerned that your child may have a disability, you can make a special education referral to request an evaluation. If you would like to learn more about this process or discuss your concerns prior to making a referral, please contact the school psychologist at your child’s school for additional information. 

• The Special Education Evaluation Process

• How to Make a Special Education Referral

Need More Information? Sources You Can Trust

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Child Development

• ChildMind.org

• ChooseMyPlate.gov

• HealthyChildren.org

• KidsHealth.org

• Pathways.org

• PBS Kids

• PBS Parents

• Understood.org

Understanding Development

• Developmental Milestones and Positive Parenting 6 to 8 Years Old

Parenting, Health, and Safety Resources

• All About Sleep

• Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet

• Bedwetting

• How to Help Child Manage Fears

• Managing Challenging Behaviors

• Taming Tempers

• Preventing Childhood Injuries

Supporting School Success

• School Age Readers

• Back-to-School Tips

• Back-to-School Tips for Kids who Struggle

• 10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School

• Help Your Child Get Organized

• Help Your Child Succeed At School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance

• Homework Success

What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Development 

Areas of Concern

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Autism

• Learning Disorders

Family and Community Supports

Parenting is a tough job! If you’re going through a rough time, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.  

• You Are Not Alone: Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

• National Parent Helpline: 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)

• The Parenting Network of Milwaukee

• Milwaukee County Health and Human Services

• Mental Health America - Milwaukee Resource Directory

• Center for Suicide Awareness Hopeline 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

School Supports

There are a range of supports for student’s academic, social, and emotional development within the school. If you are concerned that your child may need more support, please discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher(s). They know your child well and are also familiar with a range of development at your student’s age range. If your child’s teacher needs more support, they may reach out to a reading or math specialist or a student services team member (school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker). You can also contact student services team members directly if you have specific concerns you would like to discuss or if you need help locating support in the community. If you are concerned that your child may have a disability, you can make a special education referral to request an evaluation. If you would like to learn more about this process or discuss your concerns prior to making a referral, please contact the school psychologist at your child’s school for additional information. 

• The Special Education Evaluation Process

• How to Make a Special Education Referral

Need More Information? Sources You Can Trust

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Child Development

• ChildMind.org

• ChooseMyPlate.gov

• HealthyChildren.org

• KidsHealth.org

• Pathways.org

• PBS Kids

• PBS Parents

• Understood.org

Understanding Development

It might seem too early to start thinking about puberty, but some of the changes associated with puberty might start earlier than you think. The earlier that you start small conversations with your child about the changes their brain and body will go through, the easier it is to build to larger conversations as puberty progresses. 

• Developmental Milestones and Positive Parenting 9-11 Years Old

• Physical Development in Girls: Preparing for Puberty

• Physical Development in Boys: Preparing for Puberty

• Tips for Talking about Puberty

Parenting, Health, and Safety Resources

• Positive Parenting 9-11 Years Old

• All About Sleep

• Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet

• Managing Challenging Behaviors

• Healthy Eating Tips for Girls

• Healthy Eating Tips for Boys

• Preventing Childhood Injuries

Supporting School Success

• Back-to-School Tips

• Back-to-School Tips for Kids who Struggle

• 10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School

• Help Your Child Get Organized

• Help Your Child Succeed At School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance

• Helping Kids Remember

• Homework Success

What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Development 

Areas of Concern

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Autism

• Depression

• Suicide Prevention

Family and Community Supports

Parenting is a tough job! If you’re going through a rough time, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.  

• You Are Not Alone: Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

• National Parent Helpline: 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)

• The Parenting Network of Milwaukee

• Milwaukee County Health and Human Services

• Mental Health America - Milwaukee Resource Directory

• Center for Suicide Awareness Hopeline 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

School Supports

There are a range of supports for student’s academic, social, and emotional development within the school. If you are concerned that your child may need more support, please discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher(s). They know your child well and are also familiar with a range of development at your student’s age range. If your child’s teacher needs more support, they may reach out to a reading or math specialist or a student services team member (school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker). You can also contact student services team members directly if you have specific concerns you would like to discuss or if you need help locating support in the community. If you are concerned that your child may have a disability, you can make a special education referral to request an evaluation. If you would like to learn more about this process or discuss your concerns prior to making a referral, please contact the school psychologist at your child’s school for additional information. 

• The Special Education Evaluation Process

• How to Make a Special Education Referral

Need More Information? Sources You Can Trust

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Child Development

• ChildMind.org

• ChooseMyPlate.gov

• HealthyChildren.org

• KidsHealth.org

• Understood.org

Understanding Development

It might seem too early to start thinking about puberty, but some of the changes associated with puberty might start earlier than you think. The earlier that you start small conversations with your child about the changes their brain and body will go through, the easier it is to build to larger conversations as puberty progresses. 

• Developmental Milestones and Positive Parenting 9-11 Years Old

• Physical Development in Girls: Preparing for Puberty

• Physical Development in Boys: Preparing for Puberty

• Tips for Talking about Puberty

Parenting, Health, and Safety Resources

• Positive Parenting 9-11 Years Old

• All About Sleep

• Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet

• Managing Challenging Behaviors

• Healthy Eating Tips for Girls

• Healthy Eating Tips for Boys

• Preventing Childhood Injuries

Supporting School Success

• Back-to-School Tips

• Back-to-School Tips for Kids who Struggle

• 10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed in Elementary School

• Help Your Child Get Organized

• Help Your Child Succeed At School: Build the Habit of Good Attendance

• Helping Kids Remember

• Homework Success

What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Development 

Areas of Concern

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Autism

• Depression

• Suicide Prevention

Family and Community Supports

Parenting is a tough job! If you’re going through a rough time, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.  

• You Are Not Alone: Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

• National Parent Helpline: 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)

• The Parenting Network of Milwaukee

• Milwaukee County Health and Human Services

• Mental Health America - Milwaukee Resource Directory

• Center for Suicide Awareness Hopeline 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

School Supports

There are a range of supports for student’s academic, social, and emotional development within the school. If you are concerned that your child may need more support, please discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher(s). They know your child well and are also familiar with a range of development at your student’s age range. If your child’s teacher needs more support, they may reach out to a reading or math specialist or a student services team member (school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker). You can also contact student services team members directly if you have specific concerns you would like to discuss or if you need help locating support in the community. If you are concerned that your child may have a disability, you can make a special education referral to request an evaluation. If you would like to learn more about this process or discuss your concerns prior to making a referral, please contact the school psychologist at your child’s school for additional information. 

• The Special Education Evaluation Process

• How to Make a Special Education Referral

Need More Information? Sources You Can Trust

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Child Development

• ChildMind.org

• ChooseMyPlate.gov

• HealthyChildren.org

• KidsHealth.org

• Understood.org

Understanding Development

• Developmental Milestones and Positive Parenting 12 to 14 Years Old

• Teen Brain Development

• Get to Know How the Teen Brain Works

Parenting, Health, and Safety Resources

• A Parent’s Guide to Handling the Teen Years

• All About Sleep

• Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet

• Healthy Eating Tips for Girls

• Healthy Eating Tips for Boys

• Talking to Your Teen About Dating

• Talking to Your Teen About Sex

• Substance Abuse Prevention

• Sexting: What Parents Need to Know

• Preventing Injuries

Supporting School Success

• Helping Your Teen Succeed at School

• Back-to-School Tips for Kids who Struggle

• 10 Ways to Help Your Child Succeed In Middle School

• Help Your Child Get Organized

• Helping Kids Remember

• Homework Success

• Pay Attention to Attendance: Keep Your Child on Track in Middle and High School

• Tips for Getting a Good Start in High School

What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Development 

Areas of Concern

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Suicide Prevention

• About Teen Suicide

Family and Community Supports

Parenting is a tough job! If you’re going through a rough time, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.  

• National Parent Helpline: 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)

• The Parenting Network of Milwaukee

• Milwaukee County Health and Human Services

• Mental Health America - Milwaukee Resource Directory

• Center for Suicide Awareness Hopeline 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

School Supports

There are a range of supports for student’s academic, social, and emotional development within the school. If you are concerned that your child may need more support, please discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher(s). They know your child well and are also familiar with a range of development at your student’s age range. If your child’s teacher needs more support, they may reach out to a reading or math specialist or a student services team member (school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker). You can also contact student services team members directly if you have specific concerns you would like to discuss or if you need help locating support in the community. If you are concerned that your child may have a disability, you can make a special education referral to request an evaluation. If you would like to learn more about this process or discuss your concerns prior to making a referral, please contact the school psychologist at your child’s school for additional information. 

• The Special Education Evaluation Process

• How to Make a Special Education Referral

Need More Information? Sources You Can Trust

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Child Development

• ChildMind.org

• ChooseMyPlate.gov

• GirlsHealth.gov

• HealthyChildren.org

• KidsHealth.org

• The Center for Parent and Teen Communication

• Understood.org

• YoungMensHealthSite.org

Understanding Development

Developmental Milestones and Positive Parenting 15 to 17 Years Old

Teen Brain Development

Get to Know How the Teen Brain Works

Parenting, Health, and Safety Resources

All About Sleep

Healthy Habits for TV, Video Games, and the Internet

Healthy Eating Tips for Girls

Healthy Eating Tips for Boys

Talking to Your Teen About Dating

Talking to your Teen about Sex

Teens and Driving

Substance Abuse Prevention

Preventing Injuries

Supporting School Success

Tips for Getting a Good Start in High School

Helping Your Teen Succeed at School

10 Ways to Help Your Teen Succeed in High School

Are You Over-Helping Your College-Bound Teen?

Back-to-School Tips for Kids who Struggle

Help Your Child Get Organized

Helping Kids Remember

Homework Success

What To Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child’s Development 

Areas of Concern

Anxiety

Depression

Suicide Prevention

About Teen Suicide

Family and Community Supports

Parenting is a tough job! If you’re going through a rough time, don’t be afraid to reach out for help.  

You Are Not Alone: Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

National Parent Helpline: 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)

The Parenting Network of Milwaukee

Milwaukee County Health and Human Services

Mental Health America - Milwaukee Resource Directory

Center for Suicide Awareness Hopeline 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

School Supports

There are a range of supports for student’s academic, social, and emotional development within the school. If you are concerned that your child may need more support, please discuss your concerns with your child’s teacher(s). They know your child well and are also familiar with a range of development at your student’s age range. If your child’s teacher needs more support, they may reach out to a reading or math specialist or a student services team member (school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker). You can also contact student services team members directly if you have specific concerns you would like to discuss or if you need help locating support in the community. If you are concerned that your child may have a disability, you can make a special education referral to request an evaluation. If you would like to learn more about this process or discuss your concerns prior to making a referral, please contact the school psychologist at your child’s school for additional information. 

The Special Education Evaluation Process

How to Make a Special Education Referral

Need More Information? Sources You Can Trust

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Child Development

ChildMind.org

ChooseMyPlate.gov

GirlsHealth.gov

HealthyChildren.org

KidsHealth.org

The Center for Parent and Teen Communication

Understood.org

YoungMensHealthSite.org