Navigating Screenings & Assessments

Screenings and Assessments are essential components of high-quality family child care because they help educators understand, support, and respond to each child’s unique growth and development. Rather than serving as labels or judgments, these tools provide valuable insight into how children are developing across multiple domains and help ensure that children receive the right support at the right time.

Developmental screenings are designed to give a snapshot of a child’s development at a specific point in time. Screening information is often gathered in partnership with families and helps identify when children who may benefit from closer observation, additional support, or referrals for further evaluation. Many pediatricians also use Screenings in office as these tools consider a wide range of developmental areas, including communication, motor skills, problem-solving, and social-emotional development. Early identification is critical, as it allows educators and families to work together to support children’s strengths, address potential concerns early, and promote positive long-term outcomes

Assessments, on the other hand, are an ongoing and reflective process that guides daily practice. Through intentional observation and documentation, assessments help educators understand how children learn, what they are interested in, and how they are progressing over time. This information supports planning meaningful activities, adapting environments, and individualizing interactions to meet each child’s developmental level, learning style, culture, and abilities. Ongoing assessment also provides opportunities to celebrate growth, track progress toward goals, and adjust strategies as children develop new skills.

Together, screenings and assessments create a fuller picture of each child—honoring individual developmental pathways while supporting inclusive, responsive, and developmentally appropriate care. Two widely used tools in early childhood education that support this work are the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) and the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP).

Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3): The ASQ is a set of family-friendly screening tools designed to identify developmental delays in children from 1 month to 5½ years old. It empowers educators and families to work collaboratively in screening and supporting children’s development.

Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ:SE-2) : The ASQ:SE-2 is a comprehensive set of questionnaires designed to assess social-emotional development in young children. The kit includes nine questionnaires, tailored for children aged from 1 month to 6 years old and focused solely on social emotional skills and behavior. It covers autonomy, compliance, adaptive functioning, self-regulation, affect, interaction, and social-communication.

Key Features

Family-Centric: The ASQ is completed by parents or caregivers, providing a comprehensive view of the child’s abilities and behaviors in different settings.
Simple and Accessible: The questionnaires are easy to understand and can be administered without specialized training. It only takes about 10-15 minutes.
Periodic Assessment: Conducted at regular intervals, the ASQ helps track developmental progress and identify potential concerns early on.

Implementation

To incorporate the ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2 effectively:

Schedule regular intervals for ASQ completion, aligning with key developmental milestones. This tool is often completed by the family or in partnership with them.
Encourage open communication with families to ensure accurate completion of questionnaires.
Use the results to guide discussions with parents about their child’s development and potential areas for support or intervention.

Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP): The DRDP is a strengths-based assessment tool used to measure a child’s development across multiple domains. It’s designed to be inclusive of children with diverse backgrounds and abilities. It measures a child’s progress based on 4 desired results: children are personally and socially competent; children are effective learners; children show physical and motor competence; and children are safe and healthy. This Assessment tool is currently in revision, and the new version will be widely distributed mid-2026.

Key Features

Comprehensive Developmental Domains: The DRDP assesses children in areas such as cognitive skills, social and emotional development, language and literacy, and physical health.
Observation-Based: Educators collect data through naturalistic observation, ensuring that assessments integrate seamlessly into daily activities.
Developmental Continuum: The DRDP provides a continuum of development from early infancy to kindergarten, helping educators track progress over time.

Implementation

To effectively use the DRDP, FCC educators should:

Regularly observe and document children’s daily activities and interactions. Full completion of the document is recommended at least twice per year.
Engage with families to gather additional insights and context about each child’s development.
Use the results to inform individualized learning goals and communicate children’s progress with families.

Incorporating the DRDP and ASQ-3 into your family child care program can greatly enhance your ability to support each child’s growth and development. By using these tools, you can build a stronger partnership with families and create a more inclusive and effective learning environment. Remember, regular assessments not only aid in tracking development, but they also inform your teaching, curriculum, and individualization decisions.