Before Children Attend
Before children even start attending early care professionals can begin to involve families in the assessment process. The process begins with your communication with families as they start enrollment, take tours, and get to know your program. Looking at the roles that families play in the assessment process, let’s explore some ways families are involved before children attend a child care program.
If families begin the program understanding the expectations of assessments and family role, they will not be caught off guard and think that it is something specific only to them and there is something “wrong” with their child. Help families know that assessment is a normal part of enrollment at your program.
Experts
Families know a lot about their child. If you want to get a better understanding of a child, ask those closest to them. Families can share information about what children like, dislike, how they react to specific situations, any challenges they face, family dynamics that could impact the child, and much, much more!
Team member
In order for families to feel a part of the assessment process, it is important to let them know about the process, before they begin at the program.
In conversations, documents, and forms share information with families about your expectations. Do you do assessments at scheduled times? Do you have regular parent conferences? Are there specific apps, websites, or other ways that information is shared with families?
Learners
Schedule Screenings:
Do you do initial screenings or assessments of children when they begin attending your program? If so, go ahead and schedule these before or soon after the children start at your program. Let families know when and why you are completing these and share feedback immediately with families. Provide families with the information about why you do screenings or assessments, and what you do with that information.
Advocate
Give families the opportunity to share important information such as previous diagnoses, any therapies they have participated in, or any pertinent health or developmental information.
All STARS Connection
Did you know that completing a screening of children within 90 days of enrollment is an All STARS Standard?