Child Development Checklist

(From Observing Development of the Young Child by Janice J. Beaty)

Childs Name:
Observer:
DOB:
Dates:
Program:
Directions:
Put a P for items you see the child perform regularly. Put N for items where there is no
opportunity to observe. Leave all others blank.
Items
1. Self-Esteem
___ Separate from primary
caregivers without difficulty
___ Develop a secire
attachment with teacher
___ Complete a task
successfully
___ Make activity choices
without teachers help
___ Stand up for own rights
___ Display enthusiasm
about doing things for self
___ Be observed by using
running record and checklist
2. Emotional Competence
___ Release stressful feelings
in appropriate manner
___ Experss anger in words
rather than negative actions
___ Be calmed in frightening
situations
___ Shows fondness,
affection, love toward others
___ Shows interest/attention
in classroom activities
___ Smiles seems happy
much of the time
___ Be observed by using
sampling and checklist
3. Social Competence
___ Plays by self with own
toys/materials
___ Plays parallel to others

Evidence

Date

Items
with similar toys/materials
___ Plays with others in
group play
___ Gains access to play in a
positive manner
___ Makes friends with other
children
___ Resolves play conflicts
in a positive manner
___ Be observed by using
running records and checklist
4. Physical Development
___ Runs with control over
speed and direction
___ Climbs up and down
climbing equipment with
ease
___ Throws, catches and
kicks
___ Turns knobs, lids, and
eggbeaters
___ Pick up and insert
objects with dexterity
___ Use tools (scissors,
hammers) with control
___ Be observed by using
rating scales and checklist
5. Cognitive Development
___ Classify objects by
shape, color, size
___ Places objects in a
sequence or series
___ Counts by rote up to 20
___ Display 1-to-1
correspondence with
numbers
___ Problem solve with
concrete objects
___ Make thinking visible
___ Be observed by using

Evidence

Date

Items
rating scales and checklist
6. Spoken Language
___ Listens but does not
speak
___ Gives single word, short
phrase response
___ Takes part in
conversations
___ Speaks in expanded
sentences
___ Asks questions
___ Can tell a story
___ Be observed by using
recordings and checklist
7. Emergent Writing and
Reading Skills
___ Pretends to write with
drawings and scribbles
___ Makes horizontal lines
of scribbles
___ Makes some letters,
prints name or initial
___ Holds book right-side
up; turns pages left to right
___ Pretends to read using
pictures to tell the story
___ Show awareness that
print in books tells the story
___ Be observed by using
rubrics and checklist
8. Art, Music, and Dance
Skills
___ Make basic scribble
shapes
___ Draw a person as a sunface with arms and legs
___ Make pictorial drawings
___ Move arms and hands in
rhythm to a beat

Evidence

Date

Items
___ Play rhythm instruments
___ Sing with group or by
him/herself
___ Move body to represent
people, animals, feelings
___ Dance with others to
music
___ Be observed through
their products or by photos,
audiotapes, videos, or
checklist
9. Dramatic Play Skills
___ Does pretend play by
him/herself
___ Assign roles or take
assigned roles
___ Needs particular props to
pretend play
___ Takes on characteristics
& actions related to role
___ Uses language for
creating & sustaining the plot
___ Enacts exciting, dangerpacked themes

Evidence

Date