Every child in an early learning program brings a uniqueness that needs to be valued and recognized. Using authentic assessment, early childhood educators can focus on this developmental uniqueness by examining milestones as children progress through their classroom.

“Authentic assessment refers to the systematic recording of developmental observations over time about the naturally occurring behaviors and functional competencies of young children in daily routines by familiar and knowledgeable caregivers in the child’s life” (Bagnato & Ho, 2006; as cited in Bagnato, et al., 2014). Authentic assessments can be completed through various methods, including using observation techniques, completing developmental checklists, collecting artifacts created by the children, and writing teacher reflections.