Assessments
What we assess, and how.
A developmental assessment looks at how a child is growing, learning, communicating, and interacting during the early years. Stars provides developmental assessments for all children under the age of 3 years across six areas, and looks at them together.
What a developmental assessment is
A child developmental assessment examines how a child is growing, learning, communicating, and interacting during early development. It helps families understand developmental progress and whether additional support may be helpful.
Every assessment is child-led. Parents and caregivers stay involved throughout, and the pace follows your child's attention and comfort. You leave with findings explained in plain language and clear next steps.
Speech and language
What it looks at
How your child understands language (receptive skills) and produces sounds, words, and sentences (expressive skills), compared with what is typical for their age. Questions about speech are among the most common that parents bring to a pediatrician, and an early assessment answers the question every worried parent is asking: is my child's communication on track, and what do we do if it is not?
Signs families notice
- Not cooing or babbling by 4 to 6 months
- No first word by 12 months
- Not using two-word phrases by age 2
- Fewer words than children of a similar age
- Not consistently responding to their name
- Difficulty following simple verbal instructions
- Frustration when trying to communicate
- Loss of speech or communication skills they used to have
What happens
We review your child's communication history and milestones, then assess both what your child understands and what they can express, through play and interaction. You receive a written report, the findings explained in plain language, and recommendations for next steps if they are indicated.
Cognitive development
What it looks at
How your child learns, processes information, solves problems, remembers, and makes sense of the world: learning and problem solving, attention and engagement, memory, early reasoning, play and exploration, and age-appropriate cognitive milestones.
Signs families notice
- Difficulty learning age-appropriate skills
- Challenges with attention or focus
- Limited interest in exploration or play
- Difficulty understanding simple concepts
- Delays in problem solving
- Challenges learning through everyday activities
- Missed developmental milestones
What happens
We learn about your priorities and observations, then watch how your child learns, interacts, explores, and responds to different activities, using age-appropriate tools. Findings are discussed in clear language, with guidance based on your child's needs.
Motor skills
What it looks at
Gross motor skills (crawling, walking, balance, coordination) and fine motor skills (grasping, reaching, handling small objects). Physical milestones are often the first thing parents notice, and a child who is not crawling, walking, or reaching on schedule may benefit from a motor assessment.
Signs families notice
- Not rolling over or sitting independently within the expected milestones
- Not crawling or pulling up as expected for their age
- Not walking independently
- Frequent loss of balance or unsteady movement
- Stiffness, floppiness, or favoring one side of the body
- Difficulty grasping toys, picking up small items, or using both hands together
- Avoiding physical movement or hesitating with age-appropriate activities
What happens
We review your child's physical development history, then observe strength, coordination, balance, and fine motor control during age-appropriate activities. Parents and caregivers stay involved throughout. You receive a report with findings and specific recommendations.
Adaptive development
What it looks at
How your child manages everyday routines: eating, dressing, transitions between activities, following simple directions, engaging with toys without constant prompting, and beginning to do things independently. Not only whether a skill is present, but how consistently and independently it is used in daily life.
Signs families notice
- Difficulty with feeding or self-help activities
- Limited interest in independent play
- Challenges adapting to new routines
- Difficulty following simple instructions
- Delays in age-appropriate self-care
- Relying on caregivers for basic tasks beyond the expected age
- Reduced engagement in everyday activities
What happens
We observe daily behaviors, gather your insights, and evaluate age-appropriate adaptive skills: daily living skills, independence, routine adaptation, functional play, and attention to tasks. You leave with clear explanations, practical insights, and recommendations to support your child's independence.
Vision and hearing screening
What it looks at
How your child responds to sound, voices, faces, objects, and movement, as part of understanding early development: response to sound, visual engagement, attention to the environment, sensory responsiveness, and how sensory input shapes play and communication. The focus is on natural, everyday responses rather than clinical testing alone.
Signs families notice
- Limited or inconsistent response to their name
- Reduced reaction to sounds or voices
- Difficulty focusing on objects or faces
- Delayed speech or communication
- Little attention to visual movement or stimuli
- Seeming unaware of surrounding activity
- Uneven or inconsistent engagement during play
What happens
A calm, play-based observation of how your child responds to sound and visual cues, a conversation about what you have noticed, and a clear explanation of what we saw. If something unusual is noticed, we guide you on possible next steps, which may include further assessment or a specialist referral.
Infants and toddlers
The assessment is shaped to your child's age. Two age ranges, each with the signs families most often bring to Stars.
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Birth to 12 months
An infant developmental assessment looks at early milestones across movement, sensory responsiveness, social-emotional skills, and cognitive development. Sessions are gentle and follow your baby's natural rhythms; your baby does not need to perform tasks. You are present throughout.
2 to 3 months
- Not making eye contact or tracking moving objects by 2 to 3 months
3 to 4 months
- Not smiling socially or engaging with caregivers by 3 to 4 months
4 months
- Not responding to sounds or familiar voices by 4 months
6 months
- Not reaching for objects or beginning to bear weight by 6 months
6 to 7 months
- Not babbling or making sounds by 6 to 7 months
Any time in this range
- Stiffness, low muscle tone, or uneven movement patterns
- Born prematurely, or a medically complex delivery
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12 to 36 months
A toddler developmental assessment measures progress across speech and language, gross and fine motor skills, cognitive development, social-emotional behavior, and adaptive daily living skills. Sessions are play-based, so your child will not feel tested, and parents and caregivers are present throughout.
12 months
- Not saying single words by 12 months, or two-word phrases by 24 months
15 to 18 months
- Not walking independently by 15 to 18 months
18 or 24 months
- A developmental question raised at an 18-month or 24-month checkup
Any time in this range
- Loss of language or social skills they used to have
- Difficulty following simple directions or responding to questions
- Limited interest in pretend play or in other children
- Strong distress at routine changes or transitions
Early Start serves children under age 3, so a question about a toddler's development is worth raising early.
Five steps, in order. How an assessment works
You do not have to know which area it is.
Tell us what you have noticed. Request an assessment online, or call and talk it through first.
- No referral needed
- Families can contact Stars directly
- Assessment in your preferred language
- No cost to families
Early Start developmental assessments are provided at no cost to families.
Social-emotional development
What it looks at
How your child builds relationships with parents, caregivers, and peers; expresses and manages emotions; responds to social interaction; plays; and adapts to routines and new experiences. The key areas assessed are social interaction, emotional development, relationship building, play skills, self-regulation, and social communication.
Signs families notice
What happens
We look at the whole child, not single behaviors: developmental observation, your input, and age-appropriate methods, to understand how your child interacts, communicates, and responds. Families receive clear feedback, meaningful insights, and recommendations based on their child's profile.