Behavioral Observation and Screening Flashcards
________is when a child care worker recognizes and notes an identifiable performance or behavior and uses instruments such as checklists, anecdotal records, and running records. These instruments are used to measure progress against a standard and to share results with assessment experts.
Observation
_________means an instrument intended to identify and monitor typical development or possible developmental delay. Screening programs are not diagnostic, and are not based on
whether a child has passed a certain curriculum.
Screening
How do we identify the child who is lagging behind his age-mates?
By actively paying attention through a program of regularly scheduled screening and appropriate follow up when necessary
How can we identify children with developmental delays earlier in life rather than later?
By observing them and conducting developmental screening with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers
Why do we need this course?
This course is required by Florida Statute 402.305 which describes “Licensing Standards: childcare programs”
Part of the reason we are in this class is because ____________the said we must complete it
The Florida Legislature
Early detection of problems allows timely referral for .
intervention
The caregiver’s attention can be focused on activities that __________the child’s skills.
strengthens
Increased volume and quality of information is available to parents regarding in-the-home activities that________typical development.
support
Screeening provides a common reference point and basis for interaction for______, ______,and _______development specialists.
parents
childcare workers
child
Why do we use the analogy of a window when we discuss brain development?
When a window is open, air and other things have free access to the space within, but, when the window is closed, nothing can get through the window.
We learn throughout our lives, but it seems that there are early periods during which our brains most easily acquire the basic foundations for later ________development.
skill
If we miss an early window of opportunity, some later development is more difficult or even sometimes _________ compromised.
permanently
When we discover that a child is struggling with a developmental task, we can involve that child in activities and exercises that place _______emphasis on the skills he needs to acquire
extra
Do a child’s family members know what they are looking for?
No
For example: do you think a Dad knows how many words his child should be able to say at age two or three –or- does a Mom know when to expect her child to be able to stand on leg for five seconds…….Probably not.
Who is in the best position to detect early problems and provide parents with accurate, timely information about their child’s development?
The caregiver who sees the child often
Most caregivers understand basic child development
Development in young children occurs_______ and typically progresses in_________
rapidly
spurts
Early childhood educators must recognize not only the existence of general stages and ________
of development, but also the enormous
that __________there is between children. It is quite typical to see a variation in the patterns and timing of growth and development.
sequence
variation
Skills are acquired in a_________.
logical sequence
A sequence or pattern of development consists of predictable_______ along a developmental pathway that is common for the majority of children.
steps
Physical health
refers to the changes in body shape and proportion. It includes changes in weight, height, head circumference, visual perception, hearing, etc.
Motor Development
refers to a child’s ability to move about and control various body parts. Examples include grasping, rolling over, sitting up, hopping on one foot, etc.
Cognitive Development and General Knowledge
refers to the child’s intellectual or mental abilities. It involves finding, processing, and organizing information, and using it appropriately. It includes such skills and activities as discovering, interpreting, sorting, classifying, and remembering information.
Language and communication
refers to a child’s ability to express himself verbally and to receive and understand the verbal communication of others. It also involves a child’s ability to learn vocabulary and grammar, and includes reading, writing and the ability to construct an understanding of things around them.
Social and emotional
a broad area that focuses on how children feel about themselves and their relationships with others. It refers to children’s individual behaviors and responses to play and work, activities, attachments to parents and caregivers, and relationships with siblings and friends.
Approaches to learning
refers to how skills and knowledge are acquired through the three qualities of eagerness and curiosity; persistence and creativity and problem solving.
We will also use age-level expectancies, which represent a_____________ (rather than an exact point in time) when specific skills will be achieved.
range
Age expectancies for specific skills should always be interpreted as approximate ________in a range of months.
midpoints
Again, it is _________and not age that is the important factor in evaluating a child’s progress.
sequence
First general observational guideline for caregivers to follow as they assess the development of children in their care.
First, know what to expect.
awareness of normal development tasks can help reassure you that a child’s behavior is “normal” and can alert you to when it is likely to change again.
Second general observational guideline for caregivers to follow as they assess the development of children in their care.
Second, observe a child over a period of time.
Be careful not to judge development based on one day’s observation. Remember, all of us have a bad day occasionally.
Third general observational guideline for caregivers to follow as they assess the development of children in their care.
Third, keep in mind that difficulties in a single area are not necessarily cause for alarm.
Rather, it may be an indicator that a child is experiencing some stress in his or her life that needs to be examined further.
_______are good tools to guide your observations and to record them.
Checklists
________are short, factual narrative descriptions of a child’s behavior. They should be fact- based and should not include judgments.
Anecdotal records
_________are similar to anecdotal records. During a specified period of time (for example, 15 minutes), the person who is observing the child writes everything the child does and says. This tool is especially helpful in looking at social behaviors. They can be targeted to a very specific behavior like a child’s ability to play well with other children.
running records
Record only _______.
facts
Record every _______– don’t leave out anything.
detail
