Institute staff identified the following set of general growth outcomes for children between birth and age eight. These outcomes serve as the foundation for creation of Individual Growth and Development Indicators.

For a detailed discussion of the process we followed to select these outcomes, please go to the Dissemination page to download our Technical Report #2: Selection of General Growth Outcomes for Children Between Birth and Age Eight.

For a detailed presentation of a national survey of parents, early childhood professionals, and early elementary professionals we conducted to validate these outcomes, please go to the Dissemination page to download our Technical Report #3: National Survey to Validate General Growth Outcomes for Children Between Birth and Age Eight.

General Growth Outcomes

The child uses language to convey and comprehend communicative and social intent.

• Child uses gestures, sounds, words, or sentences (including sign language and augmentative and alternative communication) to convey wants and needs or to express meaning to others.
• Child responds to others’ communication with appropriate gestures, sounds, words, or word combinations (including sign language and augmentative and alternative communication).
• Child uses gestures, sounds, words, or sentences (including sign language and augmentative and alternative communication) to initiate, respond to, or maintain reciprocal interactions with others.

The child takes responsibility for his/her behavior, health, and well-being, even in the face of challenge or adversity.

• Child engages in a range of basic self-help skills, including but not limited to skills in dressing, eating, toileting/hygiene and safety/identification.
• Child meets behavioral expectations (such as following directions, rules, and routines) in home, school, and community settings.
• Child appropriately varies or continues behavior to achieve desired goals.

The child negotiates and manipulates the environment.

• Child moves in a fluent and coordinated manner to play and participate in home, school, and community settings.
• Child manipulates toys, materials, and objects in a fluent and coordinated manner to play and participate in home, school, and community settings.

The child initiates, responds to, and maintains positive social relationships.

• Child interacts with peers and adults, maintaining social interactions and participating socially in home, school, and community settings.
• Child appropriately solves problems in his/her interactions with others.
• Child shows affect appropriate to the social context.

The child uses cognitive skills to explore the environment, reason, and solve problems.

• Child demonstrates an understanding of age-appropriate information.
• Child demonstrates recall of verbal and non-verbal events.
• Child understands and uses concepts related to early literacy and math skills.
• Child solves problems that require reasoning about objects, concepts, situations, and people.

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This page was updated on 12/26/2008
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