The Importance of Assessing Infants and Toddlers

A product of CFS 294of WKUBy

Elizabeth Childress

What is Assessment?

Assessment:

“Is the process of gathering information about children from several forms of evidence, then organizing and interpreting that information.”

(McAfee, Leong, & Bodrova, 2004, p.3)

Why is it important to assess?

Promote children’s learning and development Identifying children for health Diagnosis developmental delays Age appropriate in content and data

collection Parental involvement for results “All assessment decisions taken as a whole

will direct and alter children’s learning outcomes” (Morrison, 2008)

Who assesses infants and toddlers?

Pediatrician

* “Evaluates the newborn by using the Apgar scale to determine whether he or she

is in good health.”

Neonatologist

* “Conducts a comprehensive evaluation on a premature baby to determine what therapy should be initiated to improve the chances for survival and optimal development.”

Types of assessments for toddlers and infants

Apgar Scale* Birth status of infant* Assess health of newborn infant

Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale* First Month* Identifies infants ability to modulate its

behavioral systems in response to external stimuli

Types of assessments con’t…

Adaptive Behavior Assessment System

* Infant and preschool

* Adaptive Skills

* Assess strength & weaknesses in adaptive skills

Bayley Scales of Infant Development II

* Diagnose Developmental Delays

* Intelligence

* “Measures physical, motor, sensory, and cognitive development” (Logsdon,

2009)

Types of assessments con’t…

Gessell Developmental Schedules* Developmental* Detect developmental delay

Communication & Symbolic Behavior Scales* Infants, toddlers, preschoolers* Language development* Assess communication and symbolic

development

References

Logsdon, A. (2009). Tests for infant and toddler development - bayley scales test early development. Retrieved from http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/intelligencetests/p/bayleyscales.htm

Morrison, G.R. (2008). Why is Assessment important?. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/why-assessment-important/

Wortham, S. (2008 ). Assessment in early childhood education. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.

Thank you!!!