Questions About Your Child’s Development in New York City?
New York Child Resource Center, Inc. works with families across New York City whose children are in the earliest years of development. If you have been watching your child and wondering whether a developmental evaluation may be appropriate, you are not alone.
Many families have questions when they are not sure what they are seeing or whether their concern is something to discuss further. This page answers common questions parents ask when they want to understand their child’s development more clearly, without feeling overwhelmed.
Developmental Questions for Families Across New York City
New York Child Resource Center, Inc. has served families across New York City since 1993. Our centers are located in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, and we also work with families through home-based services in other areas, including Queens, Staten Island, and Nassau County.
Parents may have questions about speech, movement, behavior, sensory responses, social skills, feeding, play, or everyday routines. You do not need to know exactly what the concern means before speaking with someone about whether your child should be evaluated.
Questions Covered on This Page
- What should I do first if I think my child might need help?
- What is a developmental evaluation and what does it involve?
- How long does it usually take from first concern to getting support?
- What kinds of professionals work with young children who have developmental concerns?
- What if I’m not sure whether my child’s delays are serious enough to ask about?
- What if my child doesn’t have a diagnosis? Can they still be evaluated?
- How do I talk to my pediatrician about my concerns?
- What if English isn’t my first language? Can I still ask questions?
- What should I expect at the first appointment or meeting?
What Should I Do First If I Think My Child Might Need Help?
The first step is to write down what you are noticing. You do not need to use clinical language or know what it means. Simple notes like “not using words yet,” “falls often,” “doesn’t respond when I call,” or “meltdowns last a long time” can help you explain your concern clearly.
It can also help to think about when the concern happens. Some children struggle more during transitions, meals, bedtime, play with other children, loud places, or unfamiliar routines. Patterns can make it easier for someone else to understand what you are seeing.
Once you have a few examples, speak with someone who works with young children. That may be your child’s doctor, a developmental professional, or a provider familiar with early childhood development. You do not need to wait until you are certain something is wrong.
What Is a Developmental Evaluation and What Does It Involve?
A developmental evaluation is a closer look at how a young child is growing, learning, moving, communicating, playing, and participating in daily routines. It is meant to help answer questions about a child’s strengths, needs, and current stage of development.
In general, an evaluation may include parent questions, observation of the child, play-based activities, and attention to areas such as communication, movement, thinking skills, social interaction, and self-help skills. The goal is not to judge the child, but to better understand how they are functioning in everyday life.
Parents are an important part of the process because they know what the child is like across the whole day. What a child does at home, with siblings, at meals, during sleep routines, or in busy places can be just as important as what happens during a formal meeting. To learn more about how evaluations work, visit our Child Development Evaluations page.
How Long Does It Usually Take From First Concern to Getting Support?
The timing can vary. Some families are able to speak with someone quickly, while others may need more time to gather information, schedule appointments, or coordinate with the people involved in their child’s care.
In general, the process often begins with a parent concern, followed by conversations, information gathering, and some type of developmental review or evaluation. After that, families may receive guidance about what kind of support may be appropriate.
While the exact timeline can differ, parents do not have to wait passively. You can keep notes, ask questions, share examples, and continue observing your child’s progress. If your concern continues or grows stronger, it is reasonable to raise the concern again.
What Kinds of Professionals Work With Young Children Who Have Developmental Concerns?
Young children with developmental concerns may be supported by professionals with different areas of training. Some focus on communication, some on movement, some on learning and play, and others on everyday routines, behavior, feeding, or family support.
The type of professional involved often depends on what the child is having difficulty with. A child who is late to talk may need a different kind of support than a child who has trouble walking, using their hands, calming their body, playing with others, or participating in daily routines.
Many children have needs in more than one area. For example, a child may have trouble using words and also become frustrated during transitions. Looking at the whole child helps families understand which supports may be most useful. To see the range of professionals and services available through New York Child Resource Center, visit our Programs & Services page.
What If I’m Not Sure Whether My Child’s Delays Are Serious Enough to Ask About?
Many parents hesitate because they are not sure whether their concern is “big enough.” That is understandable. Young children develop at different rates, and it can be hard to tell the difference between a temporary delay, a personality difference, and something that needs more attention.
You do not need to prove that your child has a serious delay before asking questions. If you are repeatedly noticing something that concerns you, that is enough reason to have a conversation. A professional can help you sort out whether the concern fits within typical development or deserves a closer look.
It is often better to ask early than to spend months wondering alone. Sometimes the answer is reassurance and continued monitoring. Other times, the answer is that your child may benefit from a more detailed developmental evaluation.
What If My Child Doesn’t Have a Diagnosis? Can They Still Be Evaluated?
Many families ask questions before they have a diagnosis. In the early years, children may show delays or developmental differences before anyone can clearly explain why they are happening. A diagnosis is not always the starting point.
Questions about a child’s development are often based on what the child is having difficulty doing. A child may need help communicating, moving, playing, eating, calming, following routines, or interacting with others, even if there is not yet a specific diagnosis.
Parents should not feel that they need to arrive with answers. It is enough to describe what you are seeing, what your child can do, what seems hard, and what you hope your child will be able to do more easily.
How Do I Talk to My Pediatrician About My Concerns?
When you talk to your child’s pediatrician, be specific. Instead of saying only “I’m worried,” try to give examples of what you are noticing. You might describe what your child does, what they do not yet do, when it happens, and how long it has been going on.
It can help to write down your main concerns before the visit so you do not forget them. You can also bring videos, notes, or examples from daily routines if they show something that is hard to explain in words.
If you do not understand the answer you receive, ask for it to be explained another way. You can ask what the doctor thinks is typical, what should be watched, and what would make sense if the concern continues.
What If English Isn’t My First Language? Can I Still Ask Questions?
Yes. Families should be able to ask questions about their child’s development in the language they are most comfortable using. A parent’s ability to explain concerns clearly matters, and language should not be a barrier to asking for information.
If English is not your first language, it may help to write down your concerns in your preferred language before speaking with someone. You can describe what your child does at home, what language or languages they hear, and how they communicate with familiar people.
Children who grow up with more than one language may develop communication in ways that look different from children who hear only one language. That does not mean parents should ignore concerns. It means the child’s full language environment should be understood when looking at their development.
What Should I Expect at the First Appointment or Meeting?
At a first appointment or meeting, you can usually expect to talk about your child and what led you to ask for guidance. You may be asked about your child’s development, daily routines, health history, communication, movement, play, sleep, feeding, behavior, and what your family is noticing at home.
Your child may be observed while playing, moving, communicating, or interacting with you. Some children are shy, tired, active, upset, or quiet during a first meeting. Professionals who work with young children understand that one appointment does not always show the whole child.
You should also have a chance to ask questions. It is okay to ask what someone is noticing, what things mean in general terms, and whether a developmental evaluation may be appropriate. The purpose of the first meeting is to begin understanding your child more clearly, not to expect your child to perform perfectly.
Questions About Your Child’s Development in NYC?
If you have concerns about your child’s development and want to make a referral to the NYC Early Intervention Program, call 311. The Early Intervention Program is the public program for infants and toddlers under three years old who have or are suspected of having a developmental delay or disability.
If you have general questions about what you are noticing, New York Child Resource Center, Inc. can speak with families about developmental concerns and help you understand whether a developmental evaluation may be something to discuss. New York Child Resource Center, Inc. is approved by New York State and has a contract with New York City to provide Early Intervention services.
Bronx: 718-585-0600
Manhattan: 212-569-1044
Brooklyn: 718-443-3440
To learn more about developmental evaluations in New York City, visit our Child Development Evaluations page. For an overview of support available for young children in New York, visit What is Early Intervention?. For questions about specific areas of development, see our NYC parent resource guides on speech and language, behavior, sensory, emotional, and social development, and physical development and motor skills.
For general information about tracking developmental milestones and talking with your child’s doctor about concerns, families may also review the CDC’s guidance for families concerned about development.
Questions About Your Child’s Development in the Bronx
If you live in the Bronx and have questions about your child’s development, you can call our Bronx location to talk generally about what you are noticing. Families often call when they have concerns about communication, movement, behavior, play, feeding, daily routines, or general development.
To learn more about this location, visit our Bronx location page.
Bronx: 718-585-0600
Questions About Your Child’s Development in Brooklyn
If you live in Brooklyn and have questions about your child’s development, you can call our Brooklyn location to talk generally about what you are seeing and whether a developmental evaluation may be worth discussing. You do not need to have a diagnosis or a clear explanation before asking questions.
To learn more about this location, visit our Brooklyn location page.
Brooklyn: 718-443-3440
Questions About Your Child’s Development in Manhattan
If you live in Manhattan and have questions about your child’s development, you can call our Manhattan location to talk generally about your concerns. Parents may call when they are unsure whether delays, behaviors, sensory responses, or daily routine challenges are typical for their child’s age.
To learn more about this location, visit our Manhattan location page.
Manhattan: 212-569-1044
Questions About Your Child’s Development in Queens
New York Child Resource Center, Inc. also works with families in Queens through home-based services. If you live in Queens and have questions about your child’s development, you can call one of our locations to talk generally about what you are noticing and whether a developmental evaluation may be worth discussing.
Families in Queens may have questions about speech and language, movement, sensory responses, behavior, social interaction, feeding, or everyday routines. A conversation can help you organize your concerns and understand whether they may be worth discussing further.
Questions About Your Child’s Development in Staten Island
New York Child Resource Center, Inc. also works with families in Staten Island through home-based services. If you live in Staten Island and have concerns about your child’s development, you can call one of our locations to ask general questions and talk through what you are seeing.
Some families call because their child is not talking yet, seems delayed with movement, has frequent meltdowns, struggles with daily routines, or is not meeting milestones in the way the parent expected. You do not need to know whether the concern is serious before asking whether an evaluation may be worth discussing.
Questions About Your Child’s Development in Nassau County
New York Child Resource Center, Inc. also works with families in Nassau County through home-based services. If you live in Nassau County and have questions about your child’s development, you can call one of our locations to talk generally about what you are noticing and whether the concern may warrant a closer look.
Families may call with questions about communication, movement, play, attention, behavior, social interaction, feeding, or daily independence. The first step is often simply being able to explain what you are noticing and ask whether it is something to discuss further.
Families in Nassau County should contact the Nassau County Early Intervention Program for referral information.
