The ABCs of Assessments for Early Childhood Educators
Early childhood educators and allied professionals realize the benefits of fostering an environment that embraces every child’s distinctive self-expression. We also realize that children reach milestones at different times and in different ways.
However, part of our professional role is determining when some of our child’s individual “quirks” or reticence may indicate a need for further support. Assessments can help distinguish individuality or preferences from potential issues that might require intervention. While we never want to extinguish a child’s spark, early identification of developmental delays allows us to nurture areas where they might need an extra boost during prime learning windows and help set them on a positive path for their learning future.
The advantages of a team approach in assessments
While assessments are valuable tools, they can’t be conducted in a vacuum.
The most successful assessments use a multi-disciplinary model. Usually, it entails a play-based setting, such as providing a set of blocks and evaluating the child’s response. The way the child interacts with the blocks offers a wealth of insight — for educators and related professionals who are interested in whether they understand counting and colors, to the occupational therapist who will evaluate their motor skills as they manipulate the blocks, to the physical therapist who will notice how they’re sitting, to the speech-language pathologist who will focus on how they verbalize their activity.
The team will be looking at a wide variety of components, such as cognition, communication, social-emotional development, physical development and adaptive behavior — each from their own professional perspective. What appears to just be “child’s play” is actually a rich source of input for the team. For example, they may realize that what they assumed was a cognitive delay is really a motor or language delay that’s masking some of their cognition.
Even after the assessment is complete, this coordinated approach must continue. By working together, we can better understand what to expect from the child and coalesce around integrated goals. For instance, if a child has significant sensory issues, a speech-language pathologist recognizes their language will be impeded when their sensory needs aren’t being met. Understanding how a child will respond is crucial for effective treatment.
Helping caregivers understand the benefits of assessments
All caregivers want the best for their children, but assessment discussions can be fraught with strong emotions like anxiety or anger if not initiated from a position of empathy. This may be their first time hearing of concerns, or it might be their only child, so they don’t recognize typical development. In some cases, when parents and guardians hear terms like “special education” or “disability,” they react with relief that their child will qualify for services. In other cases, they might express denial or might not grasp how early intervention can help their child flourish.
A positive experience relies on establishing a productive relationship with the caregiver, so it’s critical to express your concerns or observations in a gentle, empathetic manner.
Here are some tips to guide the discussion:
- Start with a positive mindset and focus on the child’s strengths before addressing concerns. Express that while many children may have already reached certain milestones, that’s not the case for all. The objective is to determine if it’s a temporary delay that will resolve itself or if there are other contributing factors.
- Take into account potential cultural and environmental factors and what resources the family may have. These considerations can help professionals develop intervention plans, schedules and ongoing communications best suited to specific family needs.
- Be prepared with ample resources, such as handouts and suggestions for next steps. Coach them on how they can begin to work on relevant skills with their child.
- Emphasize the fact that they are a valuable part of the team and will offer vital support as their child’s advocate. After all, no one knows their child better than the caregiver. Given that children spend the bulk of their time with their caregivers, the majority of the interventions will take place at home.
- Invite them to help develop goals and objectives alongside the multidisciplinary team.
Supporting bright beginnings for every child
Early childhood educators relish their role and the opportunity to see children bloom. A child’s sense of wonder and excitement as they master new concepts and skills is unmatched. We can help cultivate a positive start by ensuring all students have the foundation they need. Building this foundation often includes assessments, which can provide the information we need to help each child thrive by mapping out the best path forward on their individual educational journey.
For more resources on supporting your youngest learners, visit Pearson’s Early Childhood Development Resource Center.