2024 is about to end and as educators, daycare directors, and caregivers, we all know how important it is to take time each year to reflect on the growth and development of the children in our care. The end of the school year or program cycle provides the perfect opportunity to look back at how much each child has learned, how they’ve changed, and where they still need support.
But assessing a child’s growth isn’t always straightforward. Growth in early childhood happens in so many ways—socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically—that it can be challenging to measure. Plus, every child develops at their own pace. This is why it’s crucial to have a clear, holistic approach to assessing their progress in the classroom.
As both a daycare manager and a provider of learning materials for early childhood education, I’ve seen how powerful it can be when educators have the right tools and strategies in place to assess and reflect on each child’s development. In this blog, I’ll share some practical tips on how you can assess the growth of children in your care and how to use that information to support them in the coming year.
1. Look Beyond the Academic Milestones
When we think about "classroom growth," it's easy to immediately focus on academic progress—whether children can count to 20, recognize letters, or write their names. While academic growth is important, it’s just one part of the bigger picture. In early childhood, social and emotional development are just as important.
To truly assess growth, consider the following:
- Social Skills: How well do the children interact with their peers? Are they able to share, take turns, and cooperate during group activities? Do they demonstrate empathy and understanding when a peer is upset?
- Emotional Regulation: How do the children manage their emotions, especially in stressful or challenging situations? Are they able to calm themselves down after a tantrum or frustration? Are they beginning to express their emotions with words rather than through behaviors?
- Independence and Self-Confidence: Have you noticed children becoming more independent in tasks like cleaning up, following routines, or taking responsibility for their belongings? This is a key area of growth that often gets overlooked, but it is essential for building self-esteem.
Reflection Tip: Take a moment to review your observations of how children interact with their peers and handle their emotions throughout the year. Can you identify moments where they’ve shown significant growth in these areas? Celebrate those milestones, as they are just as important as academic achievements.
2. Use Developmental Checklists and Observations
One of the most effective ways to assess children’s growth is by using developmental checklists and observational assessments. Developmental checklists are tools that allow you to track specific milestones or skills in various areas—cognitive, social-emotional, physical, and language development—over time. They give you a clear framework for assessing progress and identifying any areas that may need additional support.
For example, you might track whether a child can:
- Hold a pencil correctly (fine motor skills)
- Follow a two-step direction (cognitive)
- Express their feelings with words (social-emotional)
- Take part in group activities without disrupting (social skills)
Pairing these checklists with your daily observations will help you form a more comprehensive picture of a child’s progress. In fact, observations are one of the most valuable assessment tools we have. By simply watching children interact with materials, engage with peers, or solve problems, you gain insight into their development that may not be as easily captured by checklists alone.
Reflection Tip: At the end of the year, take time to go over the checklists for each child and compare them with your ongoing observations. Are there areas where children have exceeded expectations? Are there areas that may need more focus in the coming months? This reflection will help guide your planning for next year.
3. Focus on Learning Through Play
One of the unique aspects of early childhood education is that learning happens through play. This is where so much of the growth we’re looking for occurs—children learn problem-solving, social skills, language, and even emotional regulation through play activities.
When assessing growth, it’s helpful to reflect on how children approach play-based learning experiences. Do they:
- Experiment with new materials (e.g., blocks, art supplies, sensory bins)?
- Use their imagination and creativity to solve problems (e.g., building a bridge out of blocks, creating a story with dolls)?
- Interact with peers in a cooperative way during play (e.g., role-playing, taking turns, collaborating on building a project)?
Pay attention to how children engage with learning materials, as these moments can give you powerful insights into their developmental progress. For example, a child who previously had trouble sharing materials or expressing ideas during play may now be actively collaborating with a peer on a project or using more complex language in their pretend play.
Reflection Tip: After observing play activities, jot down notes on each child’s engagement. Do they show more curiosity and initiative than they did at the start of the year? Have they begun to tackle more complex tasks? Reflecting on these moments can highlight growth that’s sometimes hard to see in structured activities alone.
4. Gather Feedback from Families
As educators, we spend a lot of time observing children in the classroom, but it’s equally important to get feedback from parents and caregivers. They often see different aspects of the child’s development, especially in areas like language, social interactions, and emotional regulation, that might not be as visible in the classroom.
At the end of the year, it can be incredibly helpful to reach out to parents and ask about:
- How their child has grown at home, especially in terms of independence or emotional development.
- Any concerns or challenges they’ve noticed that haven’t been observed in the classroom.
- Ways they’ve seen their child’s confidence or creativity blossom outside of structured activities.
Family feedback will give you a more rounded perspective on each child’s development and can also highlight strengths or challenges that you can focus on in the upcoming year.
Reflection Tip: Use parent feedback as a valuable supplement to your observations. If parents mention that a child has become more independent at home, it may be an area to celebrate. Likewise, if parents note any challenges or struggles, you can work together to create a plan to support that child moving forward.
5. Set Intentional Goals for Next Year
Once you’ve assessed each child’s growth, it’s time to think ahead. What goals do you have for the upcoming year, both for individual children and for the classroom as a whole? Setting clear, intentional goals helps direct your planning and ensures that you continue to provide enriching learning experiences.
For example, if you’ve noticed that many children have made significant progress in social skills but struggle with emotional regulation, you might set a goal to incorporate more emotional literacy activities—like reading books about feelings or practicing coping strategies. If you’ve seen a lot of growth in creativity, you could set a goal to provide even more open-ended, hands-on learning experiences.
Reflection Tip: Use the information gathered from developmental checklists, observations, and family feedback to set goals that are both realistic and supportive of each child’s unique growth path.
Reflect, Celebrate, and Plan
Assessing classroom growth at the end of the year is not just about measuring progress—it’s about celebrating the milestones, understanding each child’s journey, and planning for continued growth. By looking at the full range of development—academic, social-emotional, physical, and creative—you can ensure that each child’s needs are being met and that they have the tools to continue growing in the coming year.
So, as you reflect on the year, take the time to celebrate the small wins, the moments of progress, and the beautiful, individualized journeys of the children you care for. Your assessment today will shape the way you support their learning tomorrow.