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Clinical Practice
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Pediatric Milestones: Understanding the First 5 Years

Build nursing skill in monitoring development from birth through age 5, recognizing concerning patterns, communicating findings, and initiating timely referral and support.

A pediatric nurse observes a preschool-age child stacking blocks while speaking with the child’s caregiver in a bright, professional clinic examination room.
Contact hours
3
Format
Self-paced, online
Last reviewed
Sep 19, 2026

$15.00or included with All-Access

$5 per contact hour · 3 contact hours

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  • No post-test required · unlimited retakes · evaluation and attestation always required

Course Purpose

Build nursing skill in monitoring development from birth through age 5, recognizing concerning patterns, communicating findings, and initiating timely referral and support.

Continuing Education Credit Designation

This educational activity is credited for 3 contact hours at completion of the activity.

Overview

After completing this course, nurses will be able to assess development across motor, language, cognitive, social-emotional, and adaptive domains using age-appropriate surveillance and screening practices. Nurses will also be able to distinguish expected variation from concerning delay or regression, document findings, educate families, and coordinate referral to medical, developmental, and educational services.

Objectives

Upon completion of this independent study, the learner will be able to:

  1. Differentiate developmental surveillance, screening, evaluation, and milestone monitoring in children from birth through age 5.
  2. Identify expected developmental milestones across motor, language, cognitive, social-emotional, and adaptive domains.
  3. Recognize developmental patterns and clinical findings that require prompt screening, evaluation, or referral.
  4. Apply age-appropriate, family-centered strategies that support early childhood development.
  5. Initiate and document appropriate referrals to healthcare, early intervention, educational, hearing, vision, and community services.
  6. Evaluate the nurse’s responsibilities for developmental history-taking, observation, screening support, family education, and care coordination.

Policy Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the policies of FastCEForLess.com. This course should be used for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, prescribe, recommend, or initiate therapies or treatments in any setting. This course is copyrighted by Fast CE For Less, Inc. and may not be replicated, copied, or dispersed without written consent.

Disclosures

Fast CE For Less, Inc. and its authors have no disclosures. There is no commercial support.

Who this course is for:

Healthcare professionals who want continuing education on Pediatric Milestones: Understanding the First 5 Years.

Course outline

12 sections · finish in any order across devices

  1. 1

    Introduction

  2. 2

    Importance of Milestones

  3. 3

    Infant Milestones

  4. 4

    1st Year Infant Milestones

  5. 5

    2nd Year Milestones

  6. 6

    3rd Year Milestones

  7. 7

    4th Year Milestones

  8. 8

    5th Year Milestones

  9. 9

    What to Do About Delays

  10. 10

    When to Seek Treatment

  11. 11

    Nursing Considerations

  12. 12

    Conclusion

References

The full reference list is included inside the course, after the Conclusion.

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