Lifesteps is offering free development and autism screenings for children up to age 5 through its Child Check program Lifesteps Stirling Village, 375 Stirling Village Drive, from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Oct. 17.

A Child Check screening takes about 30 minutes to complete and the results are discussed immediately with parents or guardians. Appointments for in-person or online screenings are required and can be scheduled by calling Lifesteps at 724-283-1010 or 1-800-225-2010.

Through Lifesteps Child Check program, parents are provided with knowledge on their child’s current state of development and guided to resources when delays are detected. The screening is a brief assessment using games and activities to determine a child’s current level of development.

Lifesteps urges families to actively assess children for developmental delays, because the early years are a critical time in a child’s development. Notable milestones in a child’s development include certain aspects of hearing, talking, seeing, playing and basic social skills. By ensuring milestones are met at age-appropriate benchmarks, children are far more likely to reach their potential.