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Child Development & Early Education vocabulary · Observation and Assessment

Developmental screening

Meaning in child development & early education, with examples

nounCommon term

In child development & early education, developmental screening means: A short, standard check of a child's development, often with a questionnaire or checklist, to see whether a fuller assessment may be needed.

In Turkish: gelişimsel tarama, gelişim taraması

How it is used

Done by health visitors, doctors and some early years staff, using tools such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ). Screening only identifies children who may need a closer look; it does not give a diagnosis.

Example sentences

  1. The two-year check includes a developmental screening questionnaire for parents.

  2. Developmental screening showed a possible delay in language, so he was referred to a specialist.

Common collocations

  • developmental screening tool
  • screening questionnaire
  • routine screening
  • refer for assessment
  • milestoneA skill that most children learn within a typical age range, such as smiling, sitting without support, walking or saying first words, used to follow a child's progress.
  • developmental delayA situation in which a child has not yet gained skills, such as walking or talking, within the age range in which most children do.
  • early interventionSupport given as early as possible, often in the first years of life, to children who have or may develop delays, disabilities or other difficulties.
  • observationWatching and listening to a child carefully, often during play, and writing down what they do and say in order to understand their development and plan for them.

More terms: Observation and Assessment

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