Supporting your child's growth from birth to age 5
We offer free resources to help you track your child's early childhood milestones and access developmental screenings. Milestones tell you how kids move, play, and talk at specific ages. Screenings are easy and fun, and can tell you if your child is on track for their age.Child developmental milestones
By 3 months old
- Lifts and holds head up
- Attempts to reach for toys
- Shows interest in faces
- Coos and smiles
By 6 months old
- Begins to sit up without support
- Brings hands and objects to mouth
- Responds to their own name
- Uses babbling to get attention
By 9 months old
- Likes to look at self in a mirror
- Curious about things and try to get things that are out of reach
- Passes things between their hands
- Has favorite toys
By 18 months old
- Says several single words
- Walks by themselves
- Identifies common household items, like spoons, pillows, books
By 2 years old
- Kicks a ball
- Points to objects or pictures when things are mentioned
- Says short sentences with two to four words
By 3 years old
- Copies adults and friends
- Climbs well
- Plays make believe
- Carries on a conversation using 2-3 sentences
By 4 years old
- Hops or stand on one foot for 2 seconds
- Tells stories
- Draws people with 2 to 4 different body parts
By 5 years old
- Counts to 10
- Sings, dances, or acts for you
- Takes turns when playing games with other children
Find more milestones
These are only a few of many important milestones to look for.
Check if your child is hitting their milestones
Developmental screenings assess children's progress in thinking, movement, communication, and social skills. All babies and children should get developmental screenings. Each child develops at their own pace but milestones help you know if your child is on track.
Benefits of screening for milestones
- Tracking milestones
- Identifying developmental delays early
- Accessing support
Where to get your child screened
- Sparkler (free mobile app)
- Pediatrician’s office
- Child care program
- Family Resource Center
Sparkler: free mobile app for child development
Sparkler is a free mobile app designed for parents and guardians of children aged 0 to 5. The app offers free multilingual developmental screenings that help you monitor your child's growth and milestones.
You can access to more than 3,000 engaging and educational play and learning activities.
How Sparkler works
- Download the App
Free on iOS/Android. Use access code SF. - Complete the screening
Fill out the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) covering key developmental areas. - Receive personalized results
The Early Connections Centralized Access Point (CAP) team will review your results. They will contact you to discuss progress and support options. - Explore play and learning activities
Access more than 3,000 curated activities by age group, designed to build developmental skills.
Why use Sparkler
- Easy and convenient
Screenings are available anytime, anywhere, to fit your family’s schedule.
- Engaging play activities
Access thousands of play and learning activities designed to build critical developmental skills.
- Early support and peace of mind
Early screenings identify strengths and areas needing attention, offering reassurance and timely access to supportive services.
- Accessible for all families
Sparkler is free and available in multiple languages, making it accessible to our diverse San Francisco community.
How to download Sparkler
- App store: Download Sparkler on the App Store
- Google Play: Get Sparkler on Google Play