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Child development is the stages a child goes through from birth until he or she becomes an adult. Children are first newborns, and they acquire the skills that allow them to adapt and function during their growth. Child development should be carefully monitored to ensure its full development. This activity reviews the stages of child development, developmental screening, and its utility by the interprofessional team. Objectives: Describe the development of the newborn, later infancy, and adolescent periods. Identify the types of attachment during infancy. Assess the importance of developmental screening. Identify the reflexes that can be used to access development. Access free multiple choice questions on this topic.

Child development is a complex process that begins in the womb and continues until adulthood. It is influenced by biology and the environment and can be shaped positively or negatively. A person's mental health depends significantly on their development as a child. Following a child’s development is crucial to ensure it is adequate. This is done mainly by parents and primary doctors through parental observations, routine visits, and screening tools. Once a gap or delay is identified, the correct services should be arranged to optimize a child's well-being and, thus, the well-being of the future adult.

Child development is universal. The surveillance and management of it are intricate and challenging. Behavioral and developmental issues in children are common and can present in diverse ways. Managing these conditions requires interprofessional coordination and communication between the parent or the caregiver, the primary care physician, and the school system. Monitoring a child's well-being is a collaborative effort of each well-care visit, as well as the parents, who are the most reliable and first-hand witnesses. Once a child enters school, the teachers are also responsible for identifying issues. It is a societal responsibility to raise physically and mentally healthy children to be successful adults. There should be strong ties between the entities participating in a child's life to improve this.