Child Development Checklist

Name:

________________________________

Observer: _____________________________

Program: _______________________________

Dates: _______________________________

Item
1.Self Esteem
Separates from primary caregiver
without difficulty
Develops a secure attachment with
teacher
Completes a task successfully
Makes activity choices without
teachers help
Stands up for own rights
Displays enthusiasm about doing
things for self

2. Emotional Competence
Releases stressful feelings in
appropriate manner

Evidence

Date

Expresses anger in words rather than

negative actions
Can be calmed in frightening
situations
Shows fondness, affection, love
towards others
Shows interest, excitement in
classroom activities
Smiles, seems happy much of the time

3. Social Competence
Plays by self with own toys/materials
Plays parallel to others with similar
toys/ materials
Plays with others in group play
Gains access to ongoing play in
positive manner
Makes friends with other children
Resolves play conflict in positive
manner

4. Physical Development
Runs with control over speed &
directions
Climbs up, down, across climbing
equipment
Throws, catches & kicks balls
Turns knobs, lids, eggbeaters
Picks up & inserts objects with
dexterity
Uses tools (scissors, hammer) with
control

5. Cognitive Development
Classifies objects by shape, color, size
Places objects in sequence or series
Recognizes, creates patterns
Counts by rote to 20

Displays 1-to-1 correspondence

Problem solves with concrete objects
Makes thinking visible

6. Spoken Language
Listens but does not speak
Gives single-word, short phrase
responses
Takes part in conversations
Speaks in expanded sentences
Asks questions
Can tell a story

7. Emergent Writing and

Reading Skills
Pretends to write with drawings &
scribbles

Makes horizontal lines of writing

scribbles
Makes some letters, prints name or
initial
Holds book right side up; turns pages
right to left
Pretends to read using pictures to tell a
story
Shows awareness that print in books
tells story

8. Art, Music and Dance Skills

Makes basic scribble shapes
Draws person as sun-face with arms &
legs
Makes pictorial drawings
Moves arms & hands in rhythm to
beat
Plays rhythm instruments
Sings with group or by him/herself

Moves body to represent people,

animals, feelings
Dances with others to music

9. Dramatic Play Skills

Does pretend play by him/herself
Assign roles or takes assigned roles
Needs particular props to do pretend
play
Takes on characteristics & actions
related to role
Uses language for creating &
sustaining the plot
Enacts exciting, danger-packed
themes