DCF Child Care 40 Hour Certification
Why do childcare professionals observe and screen children? -
So they can facilitate the growth and development of every child in their program,
detect early signs of development, delay or disability, and identify signs of child abuse or
neglect.
Observation -
an ongoing process in which child care professionals recognize and document
identifiable developmental milestones as they appear using tools such as checklists, anecdotal
records, and running records
Screening -
is an ongoing process in which child care professionals use specialized observation
and documentation tools to identify, document, and monitor typical development or possible
developmental delay
Developmental milestones -
are observable behaviors, traits, skills, or abilities that typically appear at specific
age ranges
3 main reasons child care programs observe and screen children are to: -
-foster growth and development
- detect early signs of delay
-identify signs of child abuse or neglect
Early intervention -
a system of services that helps children who have a developmental disability or
delay
Atypical -
same as not typical or not expected
Mandatory Reporters -
people that must identify themselves and must report suspected abuse or neglect
Documented evidence -
written data collected by the program
Observation session -
trained adult monitors a child as they demonstrate identified skills or abilities
within a developmental domain, in their natural environment
Developmental Domain -
Characterize children's skills and abilties
-Physical Health and Motor Development
-Cognitive Development and General Knowledge
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,-Language and Communication
-Social and Emotional
-Approaches to learning
Natural Environment -
places the child would typically be such as home, the child care program, school,
rather than a directors office or doctors office.
Developmentally Appropriate Practice -
research based framework based on meeting children where they are individually,
chronologically, and culturally
Individualized Care -
attention paid to a child that recognizes and adapts to his or her unique character
and physical emotional, and cognitive traits.
Screening Session -
Trained adults identify and measure specific skills and abilities as indicated by a
screening instrument
Screening takes place -
recurrently using an instrument that is proven to be valid, accurate., and reliable
Family members involvement in screening -
May be active or passive, but always involved
Benefits of Screening -
-identify specific areas of concern
-determine if assessment or evaluation may be necessary
-basis for referral
-give info to parents to make decisions
-open ongoing communication with parents and others
Assessment -
an agency or organization gathers and reviews multiple sources of info about a
child's suspected or confirmed developmental delay or disability and uses data to improve a
child's outcomes
Evaluation -
procedures used by qualifies personnel that determines a child's eligibility for
federal, state, and local programs and services
Role as a child care professional -
Observation, Screening and Referral
Guideline -
general course of action taken to achieve a desired result
Best Practice -
specific action taken by experts in the field to achieve a desired result
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,Guidelines for Observation and Screening -
Be informed, objective and accurate, honest and fair, focused
Objectivity -
ability to set aside personal beliefs, values, opinions and biases, and consider only
facts
Subjectivity -
involves the application of one's point of view when determining a course of
thought or action
Presumption -
a belief about something or someone formed before experience shows it is true
Good Faith -
moral concept that means to work with sincere intention of doing the right thing,
with honesty and integrity and perform with best effort possible
Validity -
screening instruments soundness and legitimacy
Correlated -
related
Replicated -
repeated
Involving families in the prcoess -
-permission to screen
-enrollment info
-results of previous screenings
-health records
-family dynamics
-health issues
-written consent
Confidentiality -
keeping personal info private
Quality programs have developmentally appropriate screening schedule for each child and
share it with the parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screenings at: -
-9 months
-18 months
-24 months or 30 months
Child care professionals should: -
select the right screening tools, ask the right questions, follow guidelines and best
practices, involve families
3|Page
, checklist -
a list of skills and abilities to be observed.
anecdotal record -
write about the development of a skill or ability after it has occured
conversations -
word for word accounts of what children said while being interviewed by a
provider
can be phonetically, non verbal communication and body language also included
document children's ability to translate words into thoughts
documentation -
everything in a child's file
in regards to observation- refers to records that help identify a child who may be at risk of
maltreatment, delay, disability or to relay a suspicion of child abuse
frequency count -
how often a behavior happens
identify how often behaviors to be addressed or accommodated
running record -
write about what is happening while you are observing
standardized test -
compare a child's development to other children of the same age. ability to compare
contrast, solve problems, classify objects, put things in order, arrive at conclusions tested
time sample -
document children's attention span. how much time they spend doing an activity
work sample -
observe a child's skill by using a product they have created
can be 2d (drawing or writing) 3d (sculpture)
could be a photograph or video of child building or recording of them singing or telling a
story
rating scale -
used to measure behavior, skill, ability based on a series of quality points or a
continuum
Child care professionals do not -
diagnose
at risk -
4|Page
Why do childcare professionals observe and screen children? -
So they can facilitate the growth and development of every child in their program,
detect early signs of development, delay or disability, and identify signs of child abuse or
neglect.
Observation -
an ongoing process in which child care professionals recognize and document
identifiable developmental milestones as they appear using tools such as checklists, anecdotal
records, and running records
Screening -
is an ongoing process in which child care professionals use specialized observation
and documentation tools to identify, document, and monitor typical development or possible
developmental delay
Developmental milestones -
are observable behaviors, traits, skills, or abilities that typically appear at specific
age ranges
3 main reasons child care programs observe and screen children are to: -
-foster growth and development
- detect early signs of delay
-identify signs of child abuse or neglect
Early intervention -
a system of services that helps children who have a developmental disability or
delay
Atypical -
same as not typical or not expected
Mandatory Reporters -
people that must identify themselves and must report suspected abuse or neglect
Documented evidence -
written data collected by the program
Observation session -
trained adult monitors a child as they demonstrate identified skills or abilities
within a developmental domain, in their natural environment
Developmental Domain -
Characterize children's skills and abilties
-Physical Health and Motor Development
-Cognitive Development and General Knowledge
1|Page
,-Language and Communication
-Social and Emotional
-Approaches to learning
Natural Environment -
places the child would typically be such as home, the child care program, school,
rather than a directors office or doctors office.
Developmentally Appropriate Practice -
research based framework based on meeting children where they are individually,
chronologically, and culturally
Individualized Care -
attention paid to a child that recognizes and adapts to his or her unique character
and physical emotional, and cognitive traits.
Screening Session -
Trained adults identify and measure specific skills and abilities as indicated by a
screening instrument
Screening takes place -
recurrently using an instrument that is proven to be valid, accurate., and reliable
Family members involvement in screening -
May be active or passive, but always involved
Benefits of Screening -
-identify specific areas of concern
-determine if assessment or evaluation may be necessary
-basis for referral
-give info to parents to make decisions
-open ongoing communication with parents and others
Assessment -
an agency or organization gathers and reviews multiple sources of info about a
child's suspected or confirmed developmental delay or disability and uses data to improve a
child's outcomes
Evaluation -
procedures used by qualifies personnel that determines a child's eligibility for
federal, state, and local programs and services
Role as a child care professional -
Observation, Screening and Referral
Guideline -
general course of action taken to achieve a desired result
Best Practice -
specific action taken by experts in the field to achieve a desired result
2|Page
,Guidelines for Observation and Screening -
Be informed, objective and accurate, honest and fair, focused
Objectivity -
ability to set aside personal beliefs, values, opinions and biases, and consider only
facts
Subjectivity -
involves the application of one's point of view when determining a course of
thought or action
Presumption -
a belief about something or someone formed before experience shows it is true
Good Faith -
moral concept that means to work with sincere intention of doing the right thing,
with honesty and integrity and perform with best effort possible
Validity -
screening instruments soundness and legitimacy
Correlated -
related
Replicated -
repeated
Involving families in the prcoess -
-permission to screen
-enrollment info
-results of previous screenings
-health records
-family dynamics
-health issues
-written consent
Confidentiality -
keeping personal info private
Quality programs have developmentally appropriate screening schedule for each child and
share it with the parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends screenings at: -
-9 months
-18 months
-24 months or 30 months
Child care professionals should: -
select the right screening tools, ask the right questions, follow guidelines and best
practices, involve families
3|Page
, checklist -
a list of skills and abilities to be observed.
anecdotal record -
write about the development of a skill or ability after it has occured
conversations -
word for word accounts of what children said while being interviewed by a
provider
can be phonetically, non verbal communication and body language also included
document children's ability to translate words into thoughts
documentation -
everything in a child's file
in regards to observation- refers to records that help identify a child who may be at risk of
maltreatment, delay, disability or to relay a suspicion of child abuse
frequency count -
how often a behavior happens
identify how often behaviors to be addressed or accommodated
running record -
write about what is happening while you are observing
standardized test -
compare a child's development to other children of the same age. ability to compare
contrast, solve problems, classify objects, put things in order, arrive at conclusions tested
time sample -
document children's attention span. how much time they spend doing an activity
work sample -
observe a child's skill by using a product they have created
can be 2d (drawing or writing) 3d (sculpture)
could be a photograph or video of child building or recording of them singing or telling a
story
rating scale -
used to measure behavior, skill, ability based on a series of quality points or a
continuum
Child care professionals do not -
diagnose
at risk -
4|Page
