Northampton/Hadley Family Connection
Laura Frogameni, Preschool & Partnership Coordinator
Early Childhood Center, 120 Jackson Street, Northampton, MA 01060
413-587-1471
https://ecc.northamptonschools.org/
FAQs about the ASQ
What is the difference between the ASQ 3 and the ASQ SE? Should I do both?
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire is offered in two parts. Completing both gives you the most complete picture of your child's development.
The ASQ3 focuses on the Developmental areas of gross motor (walking, standing, climbing), fine motor (picking up items, scissor use), communication (gestures, sounds, speaking, understanding) and problem solving (how your child is figuring things out) and practical (feeding, toileting).
The ASQ SE focuses on Social Emotional well-being. This can include questions about mealtimes, sleeping, and demonstrations of emotions (crying, friendliness, laughter).
How long does it take to complete the questionnaires?
Anywhere from 10-40 minutes depending on the questionnaire (the SE tends to be a bit shorter than the 3) and the age of the child. Also, sometimes folks aren't sure if their child has a certain skill yet so will pause to observe their child then resume. It's best to start and complete it in one sitting so you are sure to hit submit at the end.
What's the point? I think my child is doing fine.
That's great! And, sometimes there are skills we don't think our child is ready for yet. Something we think maybe is not in their range of doable so we haven't offered them the opportunity to try yet. In completing the ASQ, you can see the range of skills that are possible for your child at their current age.
How do I answer the questions when my child is just learning a new skill?
The answers available to you in the ASQ are YES, SOMETIMES, and NOT YET. That's important as the range of typical skill development can be quite large. Take walking, for instance, it can occur naturally in children anywhere from 9-18 months. Nine months for typical development is a super large time span, making an "early walker" no more advanced than a child who walks at 18 months.
What happens after I hit submit?
Results will be reviewed by one of the Early Childhood Specialists at our Early Childhood Center. We'll contact you to set up a time to talk about your impressions and what we noticed. We'll also provide you with supplemental activities to offer your child and, as needed, refer you to your physician or school district for further screening or evaluation.
Can I do it again when my child is older?Yes! You can log in again to complete either or both ASQs as your child grows. We suggest not more often than every 6 months.
