Free child development checks for children aged 12 months to 5 years are available at selected government children’s centres and preschools.

A child development check looks at:

• how a child is progressing in important areas such as communication, physical ability, social skills and problem-solving skills
• helps you understand your child’s development progress, know what to look for next, and get the right support if needed
• will be conducted by a trained screener, who will help you understand the results.

Why checks are important

Reaching developmental milestones in early childhood sets the foundation for lifelong learning, health and development. A child’s experiences in the first five years  shape their brain, body and emotions.

Early support can make a lifelong difference.

A child development check is different from a health check. Health checks are done by qualified professionals such as doctors, nurses or the Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS).

The department is working towards combining child health and development checks in the future. More information will be shared in late 2026.

Booking a child development check

Talk to your local children’s centre or preschool to find out more and request an appointment.

You can attend the check with your child in person, or it can be done with the support of your child’s educator.

You can book a check at a participating service even if your child attends a different service. Complete a consent form and a member of our team will contact you to make a appointment.

About the child development checks project

The department is partnering with the Office for Early Childhood Development to increase the availability of screenings across our State.

This is part of the government’s 20-year goal to reduce the rate of South Australian children who are developmentally vulnerable when they start school from 23.8% to 15%.