Early Childhood Assessment

Purpose Of Testing In Early Childhood Development

Infants and toddlers assessment in a center or home visiting program can be a challenge. However, educators must make valid interpretations and principled decisions on what to teach and how to teach it. They must assess all infants and children they teach, even the toddlers. This paper explores development suitable assessment for children; it recognizes the problems involved in this effort and outlines the benefits realized from the system of ongoing observation and assessment. Meisels et al. (2003), proposed a new approach that focuses on the purposes of children’s behavior.

An Overview of Assessment in Early Childhood

Despite the challenges posed by the development characteristics of toddlers and infants and the busy nature of their programs, assessment of young children is an indispensable part of quality care in children. Careful observation of children on a continuous basis, followed by the sensitive understanding of their behavior in a development scale, provides many benefits to them and their caretakers. Infants assessment helps caregivers build a cordial relationship with the children (Jablon, Dombro, & Dichtelmiller 1999). They should understand what makes them smile or laugh and what tasks are not easy for them. Caretakers gain respect for their strengths and challenges, feel connected, and come to appreciate each of their individuality. These relationships provide the foundation for social learning (Vygotsky 1978).

The Process of Infant’s Assessment

The process of child evaluation requires different measure in order to determine the best solution for those found to have disabilities. The following measures need consideration:

1. Determine the test evaluation materials to used and test how the information will help in a child’s education.
2. Consider doing the evaluation even in class to include the teacher.
3. Consider an evaluator with experience of problems similar to those of your child.
4. Avail an interpreter to the child if she needs one.
5. Consider whether the evaluator is similar with the culture of your child.
6. Determine whether the age or grade determines test score.
7. Ensure the child feels comfortable at the time of evaluation.

Effective assessment allows educators to track and describe children’s development with time to ensure they are growing as expected. Typically, toddlers grow and change at a remarkably rapid pace. If observational assessment discloses that a child is not progressing, this prompts the caregiver to seek further evaluation. If concerned about their child’s development, families can share them with a caregiver who can carefully monitor the child’s progress (Meisels et al. 2003). Uncovering child’s strengths and difficulties allow the caregiver to direct interactions, materials, routines and activities to every child’s needs and interests. For example, a nine-month-old toddler who just about to crawl may need some large, lightweight balls introduced to crawl after them.