7 strategies for involving families

in gathering assessment information

Families are a crucial source of information during early childhood assessment! Benefit from their expertise by asking families to…

1. Provide written or verbal information regarding the child’s background, family priorities and concerns, the child’s likes and dislikes, and the family’s daily routine. Use the AEPS-3 Family Report to gather this information.

2. Confirm or question information previously gathered.

3. Observe the child in other settings and/or gather information regarding the child’s skills in other settings and activities. Use the AEPS-3 Family Assessment of Child Skills to gather families' observations.

4. Facilitate observations of children during conventional and authentic assessment activities.

5. Help interpret information and participate in all steps of the process.

6. Complete formal and informal checklists regarding the child’s skills and behaviors.

Adapted from Assessing Young Children in Inclusive Settings, Second Edition by Kristie Sullivan, Ph.D., & Lynn, M.Ed.