FLORIDA DEPARTMENT

OF
CHILDREN & FAMILIES

CHILD CARE SERVICES STUDY GUIDE FOR

Behavioral Observation and

Screening in Child Care
Behavioral Observation and Screening in Child Care
Study Guide

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The Department of Children and Families (DCF) would like to extend congratulations on
your recent completion of its course, Behavioral Observation and Screening. It is hoped
that you enjoyed the experience and are ready to apply your new skills in the workforce.

Now that you have completed Behavioral Observation and Screening, please consider
registering for other DCF courses.

For more information on training and licensing requirements, please visit the Department
of Children and Families’ Web site at www.myflorida.com/childcare/.

How to use this study guide

This study guide will assist you in preparing for DCF’s Behavioral Observation and
Screening competency exam. Please be aware that this study guide does not replace the
participant’s guide you used during the course. You are encouraged to use your
participant’s guide to study for the exam. This study guide will help you focus your
studies. However, it does not contain the specific questions and answers you will see on
the exam. Use this study guide, and the key points, and objectives in your participant’s
guide to prepare for your exam.

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 5 Tips to Help You Get the Most from Your Study Time

#1 Budget your time.

Make sure you have time to study and review your work both during the course and
before the exam.

#2 Set aside time immediately after class to start your review.

This is the best time to review your notes and identify if you have any questions
concerning the material presented in the course. The night before the exam would be too
late for this step.

#3 Review all material again before the exam.

Organize all of your class notes and other material you may have received during the
course sessions. Pay specific attention to your participant’s guide.

#4 Create your own study guide.

Organize your notes into key ideas and other information you want to remember on one
sheet of paper. If you need more than one sheet, that’s all right, but try to keep the ideas
organized, brief, and to the point.

#5 Space out your studying.

You will learn more if you study a little each day rather than trying to “cram” all the
information into your head the night before the exam. Studying a little each day will help
the material stay in your long-term memory.

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 10 Tips for Success on Your Competency Exam

#1 Take care of your personal needs.

Make sure you rest well the night before the exam. Eat before taking your exam; do not
take the exam hungry. Leave enough time to take care of all your personal needs before
the exam so that you can concentrate during the exam.

#2 Be well-prepared.
Being well-prepared, and arriving early will reduce anxiety. Bring at least two #2 pencils,
a photo ID and the confirmation letter you received after you registered.

#3 Listen carefully, read the instructions and ask questions if you don’t
understand.
It is important to listen carefully to the directions you are given. Read the instructions
carefully, and ask questions if you do not understand them.

#4 Read through the entire exam.

Read through the entire exam first to get a feel for the exam. Pay attention to how it is
structured and how the questions are written.

#5 Tips for multiple choice questions.

Read the question first. Eliminate answers you know are not correct. If you do not know
an answer, try to guess.

#6 Do the easy questions first.

Do the easy questions first and then go on to harder questions or questions that require
additional thought. This strategy will help ensure that you answer all the questions you
know before you go on to the challenging questions. This strategy also helps build your
confidence.

#7 Have a problem with a question? Skip it!

If you have a problem with a question, skip it and come back to it later. Just as you
worked on the “easy” questions first, it is important that you not get “stuck” on one
question and that you use your time answering questions you can.

#8 Read all options.

Be sure that you read all of your choices before selecting an answer.

#9 Stay focused.
Don’t let your mind wander or worry about other students who may be completing an
exam before you do. Stay focused and work on one question at a time.

#10 Before you turn in your exam, check your work.

Make sure you have answered all the questions. Double check!

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 Sample Scantron

This is an example of the Scantron sheet that you will use when take the exam for this courses.

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 Module 1: An Introduction to Behavioral Observation and Screening

1. From the section titled, “Developmental Screening,” list and describe the four key
benefits of developmental screening.

2. Explain the terms “Observation” and “Screening.” How are they useful in providing
child care?

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3. Why do we need this course?

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 Module 2: Child Development and Developmental Delay

4. From the section, “Development in the Human Brain,” which describes the detection
of developmental delays, explain why it is important to detect developmental delays as
early as possible?

5. From the section titled, “Principles of Child Development,” list the four key points of
child growth and development as it relates to observation and screening.

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6. Why do caregivers need to have an understanding of child growth and development?

7. Choose the appropriate definition and example that matches each domain.

Domain Definition Example

Physical Health
Motor Development
Cognitive Development &
General Knowledge
Language &
Communication
Social & Emotional
Approaches to Learning

Definition
A. Child’s intellectual or mental abilities 1.
B. How children feel about themselves 2.
and their relationships with others
C. How skills and knowledge are acquired 3.
D. Child’s ability to express himself 4.
verbally and to receive and understand
the verbal communication of others
E. Child’s ability to move about and 5.
control various body parts
F. Changes in body shape and proportion 6.
Example
Grasping and rolling over
Reading, writing and the ability to
construct an understanding of things
around them
Finding, processing, and organizing
information
Individual behaviors and responses to
play and work activities
Weight, height and head circumference
Eagerness and curiosity; persistence

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8. Explain why it is important to consider a child’s development more than his specific
age when a characteristic is observed.

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 Module 3: Observation and Screening Basics

9. From the section titled, “Observation Guidelines,” list and describe four general
observation guidelines for caregivers to follow during the observation and screening
process.

10. Write the letter of the definition that corresponds with each term.
Term Definition
___ Checklist A. This allows you to interact with children directly
and ask them to do certain things.
___ Anecdotal records B. You are concealed behind a screen or a 2-way
mirror and do not interact with the child.
___ Running records C. You record observations by checking the box that
best describes the behavior that you have observed.
___ Participant observation D. These are short, factual narrative descriptions of a
child’s behavior during a specified time period.
___ Overt observation E. You do not tell children that they are being
observed.
___ Non-participant observation F. These are short, factual narrative descriptions of a
child’s behavior.
___ Covert observation G. You do not hide the fact that you are observing a
child’s actions.

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11. Identify whether each statement is true or false. Change each false statement to a true
statement.

True or False: The observer must be subjective.

True or False: Do not try to observe more than one child at a time.

True or False: Do not influence the child’s responses by your presence.

True or False: Make sure there is adequate space for the observation.

True or False: Make sure that questions are kept to a minimum.

True or False: Use an area that is new to the child.

True or False: Make sure you build a relationship with the child and the parents.

12. Fill in the box next to each observed behavior with the appropriate developmental
domain.

Observed Behavior Developmental Domain

Child was able to string wooden beads on a shoe string.

Child plays well with peers.

Child was able to solve a simple problem.

Child was able to sing an appropriate song.

Child was able to jump three times.

Child was able to successfully complete an art activity.

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 Module 4: Screening Instruments

13. From the section, “Goals of Screening,” describe what a good screening tool should
accomplish.

14. Write the letter of the definition that corresponds with each term.
Term Definition
___ Developmental screening A. brief tests that target social-emotional issues
instruments
___ Achievement tests B. brief achievement test geared to show whether a
child is ready to benefit from a specific program
___ Social- C. measures knowledge or skills a child has learned
emotional/behavioral screening
tests
___ Readiness tests D. assessments based on children’s work in the
classroom focused on measuring a child’s
performance
___ Instructional assessments E. a child’s emotional state in a variety of situations is
tested clinically
___ Parent-Completed F. a child is compared to others who are similar to him
Assessment in age and level of development
___ Standardized/Norm- G. focuses on observation and provides initial
Referenced information that can facilitate learning
___ Temperament H. parents write a narrative of their child’s skills as
they have observed them, and then professional
child care providers convert this information into
measurable information
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15. Sound screening tools are _______________________, _______________________,
and _______________________.

16. List six (6) common elements of screening instruments.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

17. From the section titled, “Adjusted Age,” describe the implications of a child’s
premature birth and the accommodations you must use to ensure that child receives a fair
and accurate screening.

18. Calculate the adjusted age for the following children:

1. Simon was born 9 months ago. He was 8 weeks premature.

2. Bill was born 36 months ago. He was 6 weeks premature.

19. From the section titled, “Flexibility and Literal Interpretations,” determine the
appropriate action a care giver should take to proceed with this screening:
The instrument for screening a 22-month-old calls for ball. If the screener does
not have a ball ready, what could she use in their place?

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 Module 5: Screening Procedures

20. From the section, “Four Basic Tasks,” identify the four basic tasks you must consider
to conduct a successful screening program, and describe each one.

21. From the section, “Identifying Strategies that Work,” identify and describe the three
strategies mentioned.

22. Does obtaining parental permission to screen a child allow the child care professional
to refer the child for further professional assessment?
Yes or No

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 Module 6: Referral Process and Resources

23. From the section, “Next Steps,” which explains what to do once you have identified a
child in your care that needs further assessment, describe the actions you should take.
Include notifying the parents and referral to a professional.

24. Fill in the blanks in the following statements by using the information from the
section titled, “Communicating Screening Results with Parents.”

1. Schedule a specific time to discuss ______________ and ___________ with parents.

2. When talking to the parents explain that the _________ identified some __________.
3. Explain you are using a “________________” screening tool.
4. Show the _____________ where the ______________ did well on the questionnaire.
5. Explain the scores to the parents and ask for _______________ of your observations.
6. Use ____________________ terminology.
7. Inform them for preschool age children, further __________________ is available at
no cost to the family.
8. Some parents may resist further ________________ out of concern their child will
become negatively "_________________.”
9. Talk to the parents about any other ________________ they may have.
10. Answer all the questions you can, but do not make ______________ to the parent
beyond your __________________.
11. Request permission to contact a service _____________ or local ________________.
12. Ask them to sign a release of ___________________ form.

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25. A best practice mentioned in the section, “Talking to Local Service Providers,” is to
encourage the parents to make the first call to a service-providing agency. Why?

26. If the parent(s) want you to contact the referral source, what information do you need
when contacting an agency?

27. Review the section titled, “Referral Resources,” and describe some of the resources
available to you during the referral process.

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