Social & Emotional Life »
Age 0-3
What’s happening at this age?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the first three years of your child’s life are very special – they are full of rapid transition and growth. How your child plays, learns, speaks, and acts provides important clues about your child’s development.
Developmental Milestones
Below are lists of developmental milestones – things that most children can do at these ages – as well as signs of possible developmental delays at this age according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
1 year
18 months
2 years
3 years
To download the full checklist of developmental milestone from ages 2 months to 5 years old and delays to look out for, click here (English & Español).
To download the “How’s Baby” developmental checklist for children ages 0 to 3, click here
What if I notice a delay?
If you are concerned about any developmental delays your child may be experiencing, ask your child’s doctor or nurse, or talk with someone in your community who is familiar with services for infants and toddlers in your area.
Your Child’s Health > (link to Health & Fitness)
Parenting Programs > (link to Parenting Programs)
Family Resources and Service Providers > (link to Family Resources)
How important are regular screenings?
The checklists you find here are not a substitute for standardized, validated developmental screening tools such as those that might be administered by your child’s doctor.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be screened for general development using standardized, validated tools at 9, 18, and 24 or 30 months and for autism at 18 and 24 months or whenever a parent or provider has a concern. Ask your child’s doctor about his or her developmental screening.
Childcare & Early Learning
The transition to childcare care and early education can be a major one for you and your child. Because there is no right list on the program that works for every family, here are some tips for finding the right early care and education setting for your child.
Child Care
Child Care Assistance from the City of San Antonio
The Child Care Services Program provides monetary help for child care to an average of 9,000 children per day through more than 600 local child care providers. Child care services are available for both full and part-time care for qualified families. More information >
Quality Childcare Guide
This downloadable brochure from the Child Care Services program has a list of steps to choosing the right care for your child, plus a checklist on what to look for when deciding whether that child care meets your quality standard. English | Español
Quality Childcare Provider List
This comprehensive list of Quality Child Care Providers in the San Antonio area from Workforce Solutions Alamo includes address, contact information and accreditations. View list >
Texas Workforce Commission: Texas Child Care Solutions
Developed by the Texas Workforce Commission, the purpose of Texas Child Care Solutions is so provide parents access to accurate and consistent information to assist them in making informed choices to meet their child care needs. Learn More >
Early Education Providers (free or low-cost)
Choosing a School and Considering Your Child’s Needs
One important step to preparing for early care and education programs is determining what will be best for your child. This resource from GreatSchools.org can help you know what to consider, your child’s needs, and how to find the right fit. Learn More >
Pre-School Providers
Enrolling your child in pre-school is an important step in preparing them for kindergarten.
Find a free or low-cost pre-school provider near you >
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start is a federal program that promotes the school readiness of children through age 5 from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social and emotional development. Early Head Start includes children younger than 4.
Local Early Head Start providers >
Pre-K 4 SA
Pre-K 4 SA is a full-day prekindergarten program that also offers free afterschool care until 6:00 p.m. The program has experienced teachers, high quality curriculum, and bilingual education options. Students are provided healthy and delicious meals including breakfast, lunch, and snacks at no extra cost and transportation is also available.
Learn more >
Eligibility and enrollment >
Health & Fitness
Getting your child ready for a healthy life starts early. Healthy eating and physical activity habits are very important, and need support from the whole family.
Here are some resources to help your infant or toddler have a healthy start to their early development. Catching problems early may avoid larger, more costly problems in the future.
Physical Development
Speech, Language and Hearing
For more information about ensuring your child’s speech, language and hearing health, check out this helpful guide from the American Speech—Language-Hearing Association.
View Guide >
Dental Health
During the first three years of life, it is not to early to give your child the proper foundation for a healthy life and having good oral health is part of it.
- Baby and Toddler Toothcare and Teething
- How do I help my preschooler keep that bright smile?
- Tips and Resources on Child Dental Care
- How do I find a dentist that’s right for my child?
If dental care is outside your family’s budget, the Metro Health Dental Program may be able to help. Learn More >
Vision Health
1 out of every 4 children struggle with reading and learning because of undiagnosed vision problems. Early diagnosis and treatment can help avoid future learning frustrations and setbacks.
Sleep
When young children don’t get enough sleep, it can affect their mood, behavior, eating habits, and ability to focus during the day.
Potty Training
Helpful Links:
Physical Activity
Why do toddlers need physical activity?
Today’s children are four times less active in their day-to-day lives than their grandparents were. Being active helps your child stay healthy, learn good habits early, gives them an outlet for natural energy, and keeps them from high risk of obesity and other health problems throughout life.
How much physical activity does my preschooler need?
Any active movement counts as important physical activity, which means that playtime counts! Fun, family activities that get everyone moving are extremely important, no matter what age. But how much is the right amount?
- Infants – Dedicate time every day for active play, and limit time spent in items that restrict movement (car seats, strollers, bouncy seat, etc.).
- Toddlers – Dedicate time every day for active play, and limit TV exposure to less than 2 hours per day.
How do we start?
Going to the Doctor
Finding a Medical Home
Today, a child needs a home base for medical and non-medical care supported by a partnership between you, the parent or caregiver, your family, and your primary doctor or provider.
If you have insurance, it is likely you have already established a medical home with a personal doctor. If you have not yet enrolled in medical insurance for your family, this is an important step to secure the medical support your child needs for healthy development. Get help enrolling in San Antonio >
Well-Child Visits
Childhood is a time of rapid growth and change. At this exam, the health care provider will check your child’s growth and development in order to find or prevent problems. Your child should have more pediatric well-child visits at these early ages when they are younger and developing the fastest, even if your child is healthy.
Immunizations
The use of vaccines has led to major improvements in child health over a relatively short period. Many of the infectious illnesses you or your parents had as children, from chickenpox to polio to measles, no longer affect most children today because of immunizations.
Students who have not completed immunizations will not be allowed to register for kindergarten.
Safety
Kids are going to fall, crash, slip and tumble. It’s all part of being a kid. But there are little things we can all do to ensure that kids avoid more serious injuries.
Safety Information by Topic
Tips from top safety experts on everything you need to keep kids of any age safe from preventable injuries. View All >
Texas Safety Tips
The Department of Family and Protective Services provides information on child safety ranging from sleeping and water safety tips to how to report child abuse and neglect. View All >
How to make your house safe for kids
First Aid and Safety Guidelines
Local First Aid and CPR training
Food & Nutrition
Providing healthy and nutritious meals is one of the most important things you can do to get your child to develop healthy eating habits for life. Your infant and toddler’s growth and development also play a big role in their future eating habits.
Want to know what to plan through throughout your child’s life? Check out this roadmap.
What should my child be eating daily?
- Nutrition Guidelines
- Daily Food Plans and Ideas for Picky Eaters
- Feeding Infants: What to Know
- Top 10 Brain Foods
- 10 Snacks Kids Can Make Themselves
- Watch these healthy eating videos for kids
Healthy Recipes for the Whole Family
Your family eating habits have a major influence on your child’s eating habits.
- KidsHealth: Healthy Recipes for Families
- Super Healthy Kids: Blog with fun recipes and meal plans
Breastfeeding
Breastmilk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. Learn more >
Have a child under 5 and need additional support?
WIC is the non-emergency Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. If you qualify for WIC, you can receive food benefits (redeemable at grocery stores for certain nutritious foods), nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding support and health care referrals at no cost. WIC services are available to pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and children younger than 5 years old. See if you qualify >
Social & Emotional Life
Your infant and toddler’s social and emotional development involves understanding their own feelings and behaviors as well as those of others, and applying this knowledge to interactions and relationships. Research has shown that those with high emotional intelligence have better attention skills and fewer learning problems, and are generally more successful in academic and workplace settings.
Parent & Child Communication
Discipline that’s Age-Appropriate
Child Abuse
A child who’s being abused may feel guilty, ashamed or confused. He or she may be afraid to tell anyone about the abuse, especially if the abuser is a parent, other relative or family friend. In fact, the child may have an apparent fear of parents, adult caregivers or family friends.
Watch for Red Flags >
Activities and Play Ideas
Play is super important for young children to explore sense, creativity and the imagination while also building developmental skills like coordination.
Fun Activities for the Whole Family
Creating powerful and positive learning experiences for your child and your whole family does not need to be expensive. Here are some free or low cost activities to do with your child around San Antonio.
Free Activity Ideas
Family Events Calendars