Nairobi, May 16 -- When parents think about whether their child is developing well, they usually look for obvious signs: walking, talking, gaining weight. These are natural and important questions, but they tell only part of the story.

A child's development is broader than what we can see at a glance. It includes how they think, communicate, relate to others, and manage emotions. When any of these areas follows an atypical path, the impact can be profound, and the window to act is shorter than most parents realize.

Most babies hold their head up by three months, sit independently by six to eight months, and take their first steps between 12 and 18 months. By 12 months, a child is usually babbling and saying a word or two. By two years, ...