This document provides an overview of the rationale for, and characteristics of, individual growth and development indicators (IGDIs) for children birth to age 8 and their families. Development of such indicators is part of a 5-year project by the Early Childhood Research Institute Measuring Growth and Development to conduct research on, develop, and disseminate a comprehensive program performance measurement system for early intervention, preschool, and primary-grade programs serving children with disabilities and their families. The IGDIs are intended to describe children's growth and development over time, and thus to indicate when this progress is on-track toward some desired outcome, or when different or more intensive intervention is needed. This paper looks at the purpose and conceptual foundation for IGDI assessment, describes essential and desirable features of these measures, offers examples of possible IGDIs, and reports findings from the initial research on these measures. (Contains 42 references.) (DB)