Guide for Monitoring Child Development: an essential tool for paediatric primary care

Key words: Child development, Promotion of development, Monitoring, GMCD, Primary care, Parenting support

Monitoring and promoting early child development is an increasingly important task of paediatric primary care services. There is consensus that the most effective approach includes both longitudinal surveillance and monitoring rather than one-shot administration of screening test and the promotion of child development combined with monitoring within a dialogue with caregivers. The International Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) was developed following these guiding principles. Its structure is based on ten open-ended questions and 85 developmental milestones to assess development in 7 domains (expressive and receptive language, fine and gross motor, relation, play and self-help) over 12 age periods from the 1st to the 42nd month. The GMCD includes suggestions to caregivers to support development in the areas of motor and social- emotional development and play. The diagnostic accuracy and validity of GMCD in a variety of settings have been shown by studies carried out in 4 different countries. The GMCD has the potential to ensure better quality and uniformity of well-child visits, support positive parenting and improve the appropriateness of referrals for children at risk or with developmental difficulties and disorders, as well as child development and wellbeing, with benefits over the life course.