TIPS EXAMPLES

Always:

Tips for Talking with Parents 

about Developmental Concerns

Learn the Signs. Act Early.

www.cdc.gov/ActEarly | 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

Use good listening skills 

	 n Listen closely, make eye contact, nod when 

 appropriate, and be silent when the parent is speaking

	 n Repeat the parent’s main points when you respond 

 so he or she will know you heard and understood 

	 n Consider how the parent feels about what he or she 

 is saying

	 n Watch and listen closely for clues to those feelings 

 and acknowledge them when you respond

	 n Probe for more information when necessary

I am so happy to be Taylor’s new teacher! I care a lot about making sure all 

my children are on track in terms of how they play, learn, speak, act, and 

move for their age, so I will be looking for and tracking Taylor’s developmental 

milestones and sharing his progress with you regularly. It would be great if 

you would look for milestones at home, too, and let me know what you’re 

seeing as well. I have some free milestone checklists that can help. 

Encourage the parent to share any concerns 

with the child’s doctor

	 n Remember it’s not your role to make or even suggest 

 a diagnosis 	 n Remind parents of the importance of acting early 

 on concerns

A great way to monitor Taylor’s developmental milestones is with these 

checklists. They can help you understand typical milestones he should 

be reaching for his age and those to look for as he gets older. You can 

place them on the refrigerator for quick and easy reference throughout 

the day.

It sounds like you are pretty worried and I hear you saying that you do 

not hear Taylor speak clearly at home. Is that correct?

Let’s talk about what you have noticed at home. Can you describe 

specific situations?

Is there anything else about Taylor’s development you’d like to talk about?

We love having Taylor in class. He follows the classroom rules and really 

loves to sing, dance, and act during our circle time. 

Since our last meeting, I have noticed a few things about Taylor that I would 

like to discuss with you. I’ve been completing a milestone checklist for him, 

like I do for all the children, and I see he is meeting his cognitive milestones 

very well. However, he is not meeting a few of his language/communication 

milestones. For one, I have noticed that Taylor doesn’t speak clearly 

enough for most people to understand. As you can see on the checklist, 

a five-year-old typically speaks clearly.

There might not be anything to be concerned about, but I do think it’s important 

to talk to Taylor’s doctor about this in the next few weeks to be sure. Take this 

checklist with you when you go, share it, and ask the doctor for a developmental 

screening. This will help the doctor and you to know whether Taylor might 

need a little extra help. Getting help early can make a big difference! Let me 

know if you need anything from me for that doctor’s appointment.

Thank you for taking time to meet with me again. I know the last time we 

talked about Taylor’s development, we were concerned about his language 

skills. Have you been able to talk with Taylor’s doctor about this?

Talk about development regularly 

Talk with parents regularly about their child’s 

development – not only at times of concern -- and provide 

them with resources so they can track milestones at home.

Share resources 

Encourage families to use milestone checklists or the 

Milestone Moments booklet to monitor their child’s 

development at home. Find these free resources here: 

www.cdc.gov/Milestones

Highlight the child’s strengths

	 n Let the parent know what the child does well and 

 the milestones he or she is meeting 	 n Keep the conversation positive

Make sure you are well prepared

	 n Invest time in building meaningful relationships with the 

 parents and discuss developmental progress regularly 	 n Complete a milestone checklist for the child’s age 

 to help the parent know that you are basing your 

 comments on facts and not just feelings

Follow-up with the family in a few weeks

When you have concerns to share:
Tips for Talking with Parents about Developmental Concerns

Learn the Signs. Act Early.

www.cdc.gov/ActEarly | 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

If parents disagree with you about their child’s behavior or abilities 

Try: Sometimes children behave differently at home than they do at school. I’m only able to share with you what I’ve 

 seen in the classroom. How does Taylor act when he’s around other children in the neighborhood?

If a parent gets angry or upset

Try: I understand that you are upset. Like you, I want what’s best for Taylor. That’s why it’s so important for me to 

 share with you what I am seeing. If he does need some extra help, I want him to have the opportunity to get it 

 as soon as possible. Do you want to discuss your questions and concerns now, or would you rather think about 

 this a little more and meet again (in a couple of days, next week, etc.)? 

 (If the parent hasn’t already been given a milestone checklist, give one and suggest that he or she fill it out 

 and bring it back.)

If a parent reports that the doctor said to wait and see

Try: While it’s true that every child develops at his or her own pace, there are certain milestones we typically see 

 from most children by Taylor’s age. If you are concerned, you can reach out to early intervention directly to see 

 if Taylor qualifies for help through free or low-cost services. You don’t need a doctor’s referral. Acting early 

 may make a real difference for Taylor, so it’s better to find out for sure. If his development is delayed enough 

 to qualify for help, you can get those services started right away and then follow-up with the doctor. 

How to respond

n For a FREE 1-hour online training about developmental monitoring and communicating with parents, including videos 

of sample conversations (Module 4) visit www.cdc.gov/WatchMeTraining 

n For tips on why and how to use Learn the Signs. Act Early. materials in your classroom and to access free materials 

visit www.cdc.gov/ActEarly

n Share the How to Help Your Child and How to Talk with the Doctor tip sheets with parents: www.cdc.gov/Concerned

Additional Resources

Not all cultures place the same emphasis on particular developmental milestones. When communicating with families, 

be aware of your own cultural biases in making decisions about how to communicate with families.

Be Mindful of Cultural Differences