What Is Observation?
Learn how observing children is a key part of what education staff in Head Start infant toddler programs do daily. Observation involves focus, purpose, and watching and listening to learn about individual children.
Child Screening and Assessment
Screening and assessment provide valuable information about each child's interests, strengths, and needs. Screening gives a snapshot of whether the child's development is on track. Assessment is an ongoing process that includes observation and provides information about development over time. Systematic, ongoing child assessment provides information on children's development and learning. It helps inform curriculum planning, teaching, and individualizing for each child across all Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework domains.
Child Observation: The Heart of Individualizing Responsive Care for Infants and Toddlers
Learn about ways to observe infants and toddlers—a key part of the ongoing child assessment cycle. Explore strategies to support this important component of quality infant and toddler care.
Ongoing Assessment for Children Ages Birth to 5
In this tip sheet, learn about ways to plan and implement ongoing assessment procedures and practices. Also, find relevant Head Start Program Performance Standards and resources.
Assessment for Individualization
Use this vignette to reflect on and meet the standards around child screening and assessment for individualization.
1302.33 Child screenings and assessments.
Working with each child’s parent, programs must complete or obtain a current developmental screening to identify concerns regarding a child’s behavioral, motor, language, social, cognitive, and emotional skills.