Current tools
Communities need to know how their children are doing and if community environments are making a difference in early child development outcomes. By measuring, analyzing, and interpreting community level information, communities can effect change and reduce gaps among different groups of children. Data collection and monitoring provides information so agencies can avoid duplication, provide services more effectively, and utilize the specialties of each partner to the greatest effect.
Longitudinal surveys and birth cohort studies
Longitudinal surveys and birth cohort studies that track development across early childhood, school years, adolescence, and into adulthood, create a platform for life course research and policymaking. Longitudinal surveys track a representative sample of children across time. Population-based birth cohort studies track a group of babies born in a specific time period. Combined with national surveys, surveillance systems and Census information, longitudinal and birth cohort studies produce data sets that allow researchers and policy makers to monitor children’s development.
Some current tools:
- National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY)
- L’Étude longitudinale du développement des enfants du Québec (ÉLDEQ)
The Early Development Instrument
The Early Development Instrument (EDI) is a short, teacher-completed instrument which measures Children's readiness to learn at school in five domains: physical health and well-being; social knowledge and competence; emotional health/maturity; language and cognitive development; and general knowledge and communication skills.