Tip Sheet for PERSONAL-SOCIAL Domain
Sub-domain: Adult Interaction
AI 7: The child expresses displeasure or dislike of certain activities or situations. (Observation or Interview)
- Child must express displeasure with vocalizations, facial expressions, or physical actions
- Probe the caregiver for different daily routines
- FOUR or more DIFFERENT situations in 24 hours to be scored a 2
- If the caregiver says the child only becomes upset at bedtime but otherwise ‘goes with the flow’, this would be scored a ZERO.
Scoring: 4 or more different situations = 2; two or three different situations = 1; one or zero situation=0.
AI 8: The child expresses enjoyment of or preference for certain activities or situations. (Observation or Interview)
- Child must express enjoyment with vocalizations, facial expressions, or physical actions
- Probe the caregiver for different daily routines
- FOUR or more DIFFERENT situations in 24 hours to be scored a 2
- If the child only shows enjoyment when presented with food, this would be scored a ZERO. If he shows enjoyment when presented with food, when going outside, AND when given cars this would be scored a ONE.
Scoring: 4 or more different situations = 2; two or three different situations = 1; one or zero situation=0.
AI 9: Child’s response to peekaboo game. (Structured)
- An 8 ½ X 11 paper or cardboard should be used, not a handkerchief
- No time limit on this item
- Note: AM-10 in the cognitive domain has a one minute criteria of active engagement. You may want to administer both items at the same time.
See Manual for Scoring.
AI 11: The child shows appropriate signs of separation anxiety when removed from his or her parent or caregiver. (Structured or Interview)
- Interview is preferred as the child may have difficulty recovering if he is distressed by parent leaving the room several times during the evaluation
- If the child doesn’t notice when the parent leaves this is scored a ONE
- Inconsolable crying or crying longer than 5 minutes is scored a ZERO
See Manual for Scoring.
Subdomain: Peer Interaction
PI 3: The child plays independently in the company of peers/plays alone in the company of peers without fighting. (Observation or Interview)
- This item measures the child’s ability to play alone with other children nearby without fighting.
- If the child will not play alone, this should be scored ZERO
- If the child fights the majority of the time it is a ZERO
Scoring: 90% of the time or more = Score 2; Sometimes = Score 1; <10% (rarely or never) Score = 0.
PI 4: The child initiates social contact with peers in play. (Observation or Interview)
- Play is already in progress
- ‘Initiates’ can be a touch/tap/tug, offering a toy, etc.
- It doesn’t have to be verbal
- It must be WITHOUT caregiver or teacher prompting to be scored a 2
See Manual for Scoring.
PI 7: The child plays with a peer, using the same materials, without disturbing the other child’s play. (Observation or Interview)
- Play occurs next to another child or children with common materials
- Example: Two kids playing in the block area without taking the other child’s blocks or knocking the blocks down.
Scoring: 90% of the time or more = Score 2; Sometimes = Score 1; <10% (rarely or never) Score = 0.
PI 12: The child plays cooperatively with peers. (Observation or Interview)
- Child will play interactively with another child toward a common goal
- Example: Two kids playing in the housekeeping area “baking a cake” together or two children working together to build one sand castle. (Chase and Tag are not considered cooperative play)
Scoring: 90% of the time or more = Score 2; Sometimes = Score 1; <10% (rarely or never) Score = 0.
PI 13: The child initiates social contacts and interactions with peers. (Observation or Interview)
- Examples of appropriate social contact would be: calling a child’s name to invite them to play, asking to join the game, or engaging in conversation with a peer.
- The difference between PI 4 and PI 13 is PI 13 requires “appropriate” contact and social interaction follows
Scoring: 90% of the time or more = Score 2; Sometimes = Score 1; <10% (rarely or never) Score = 0.
PI 23: The child initiates prosocial interactions. (Observation or Interview)
- Child must be around UNFAMILIAR
- If the child doesn’t approach the kids, or doesn’t respond appropriately to conversation initiated by the unfamiliar child, it is scored a ZERO.
- If the child doesn’t initiate, but waits for the other kids to invite or approach and then responds appropriately to the social overture, it is scored a ONE.
See manual for further instructions on Scoring.
PI 24: The child recognizes the basic similarities of all children. (Structured)
- READ the question and acceptable responses found on page 54 in the manual.
- The child must give 2 accurate answers to be scored a TWO.
Scoring: Two or more appropriate descriptors = 2; one appropriate descriptor = 1; zero appropriate descriptors or child does not respond = 0.
Subdomain: Self-Concept & Social Role
SR 5: The child is aware of his or her feet. (Observation or Interview)
- Observe child lying or sitting and playing with their feet; however, by age 2 years many children may have stopped doing this
- Examples for older children might include taking their shoes off or participating in nursery rhymes like ‘This Little Piggy’ using feet
Scoring: 90% of the time or more = Score 2; Sometimes = Score 1; <10% (rarely or never) Score = 0.
SR 27: The child recovers from distress in a reasonable amount of time when comforted. (Interview)
- ‘Distress’ is defined as being frightened, hurt, or sad
- A ‘reasonable’ amount of time is defined as 5 minutes or less
Scoring: 90% of the time or more = Score 2; Sometimes = Score 1; <10% (rarely or never) Score = 0.