R.E.A.C.H Early Screening and Assessment of Young Children to Better Their Future
Screening and Assessment
Screening and assessment of young children provide the necessary information to guide parents, teachers and school systems to monitor the development of each child and to critically examine the experiences that parents and teachers are providing to the child. Children are essentially the reflection of the environment they are developing in. Constant stress and negative experiences can create a toxic environment for the child which seriously impacts the child’s wellbeing, development and learning. Thus, screening and assessment of young children can be an ongoing guide for parents and teachers to critically examine how responsive they are to the developmental needs of the children in their care. Screening and assessment can also alert the parents and teachers of further diagnostic needs of children at high risk. The information gathered from screening, assessment and diagnosis is essential for determining appropriate supports that must be provided to the child to optimize development.
FAQ
What is screening and its importance?
Screening is a way to ensure that children are developing at an age-appropriate rate and manner in all domains of development – Gross and fine motor; Social Emotional; Speech Language and Communication; Self Help Skills; Cognitive and Play. It is a way to be alerted early to any area of a child’s development that needs attention.
What kind of problems need to be screened for?
Screening is not meant for determining problems. It is meant to alert the primary caregivers – parents and teachers - in the child’s life to be responsive to those areas of development that may not be developing at an appropriate rate. For example, if a 3-year-old is unable to jump up and down with both feet together then the adults can provide opportunities and help for the child to learn how to jump.
How does screening happen?
The following is a link to a website that provides a checklist of a child’s abilities from birth to 6 years and beyond. Any parent or teacher can use it to determine if the child needs help to develop an age-appropriate ability that the child has not yet attained.
About Us
R.E.A.C.H. is a non-profit organization focused on identifying and supporting children as early as possible to improve their wellbeing in the future.