As a parent, assessing your child's learning progress is essential to ensure they are on track with their education and development. Studies show that 40% of primary school children cannot grasp basic reading skills. While this is a concern, it also shows that parents and guardians must closely follow their children's learning and development progress. When doing this, you should be able to assess what is being taught in the school or at home. Here are some ways to do this.

Through different levels of observation

Observing your child's playtime can give you a glimpse into their problem-solving skills, creativity, and imagination. For example, if your child is playing with blocks, you can observe how they build structures and approach challenges they encounter while building. Another way to do this is to note their interactions. Observing your child's interactions with others can show you their social skills, communication abilities, and cooperation. For example, if your child is playing with a friend, it helps to notice how they share toys, resolve conflicts, and work together to complete a task. Additionally, paying attention to their routines, like getting dressed, brushing their teeth, or completing homework, can give you an idea of their ability to follow instructions and work independently. Sometimes, a learning journal helps document your observations and track your child's progress.

Formal testing

Formal testing is a structured method of assessing your child's learning. It involves administering tests or quizzes that measure a child's understanding of specific subjects or skills. Usually, these tests are conducted according to the child's age and level of cognitive development. These include standardized tests like SAT, ACT, or state assessments and are usually administered annually to comprehensively evaluate a student's learning progress. Meanwhile, quizzes are more informal to assess a child's learning progress. For example, you can administer a weekly quiz to evaluate your child's understanding of a subject or give them a test after finishing a textbook chapter. Achievement tests measure a student's knowledge and skills in a specific subject, such as maths, reading, or science. These tests can track your child's progress and identify areas where they may need additional support. The last are diagnostic tests used to identify specific learning difficulties and strengths. If your child is very young, then preschool daycare programs for kids would be ideal, so feel free to consider this.

Conversations

Conversations are valuable tools for assessing your child's learning and understanding. Regular discussions with your child about their interests, experiences, and thoughts can give you a better understanding of their learning and development. You can start by asking open-ended questions encouraging them to think and share their thoughts. For example, "What did you learn about today in school?" or "Can you tell me about a time when you solved a problem?" With these questions, listening actively when your child is speaking is vital. You can give them your full attention and ask follow-up questions to show interest in what they say, so keep this in mind.