Parent’s Point of View #107: Should I Prepare My Child for State Standardized Testing – Pre-K

Standardized testing on pre-K kids is not designed to track their success in school or decide if they should join kindergarten. Instead, the tests track their learning ability and identify those that may need special education services.

Pre-K Standardized tests screen your child’s language or communication skills, motor skills such as gross and fine skills, adaptive behavior such as independent functioning, and social skills with peers and adults. The tests also examine your kids’ pre-academic skills, including their ability to count, answer general questions, and name colors. In some cases, and with the presence of a professional, the test may include hearing and vision screening.

School-based professionals mainly screen preschoolers for kindergarten. They may include a school psychologist, speech-language pathologist, physical therapist, nurse, occupational therapist, and most importantly, a teacher. Parents, caretakers, or school personnel can also indirectly examine some developmental areas of Pre-K learners through rating skills.

Standardized testing for Pre-K students is essential because it acts as an early intervention for behavioral, academic, or developmental issues. The testing picks up or notices signals of probable behavioral or learning difficulties before they intensify. Other developmental areas are also assessed directly by giving the children some tasks or posing some direct questions.

Your child will be given early intervention promptly, hence avoiding deterioration of the problem and increased costs of interventions. The interventions will also facilitate better learning for your kid, thus improving their chance of excelling academically and in general life.

Preschoolers’ Standardized test results are vital to all people that interact with your child regularly. The results show any delays or difficulties in functioning in a child, calling for the right teaching strategies. The results also help to evaluate your child’s progress after interventions hence preventing further developmental problems.

It is unnecessary to tell your child about an upcoming test at their age. None of the questions in the Pre-K level require prior Preparation or revision. Not informing your child about the test will help them remain relaxed and at ease during the screening. Initial Preparation could kill the fun and instead pave the way to anxiety, stress, or fear.

The best way to help your child relax is for you to be relaxed. Remember, preschoolers’ tests are child-friendly, engaging, and fun. You can nevertheless tell your child that they will meet new but friendly people in school. Let them know that the new people will ask them to do things they love doing, such as writing, drawing, coloring, and reading.

There is no need to prepare your child in advance for standardized testing. In fact, there is a risky of raising their anxiety and fear by telling them about the test in advance. Prior Preparation can cause a process that would have been easy and fun to be difficult and complex.

One of the best roles you can play during the testing process is to help your child to be calm. Assure them that everything is okay, and also show them that you are also calm. Secondly, work closely with the school personnel by providing any helpful information. You should also accompany your child during the testing process and have some fun after the test.