using the social-emotional assessment/evaluation measure (seam™) with young children
DESCRIPTION
In this 60-minute webinar, you’ll learn how your program can use the SEAM to reliably assess social-emotional development in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at risk for delays or challenges and monitor social-emotional development over time. Jane Squires and Misti Waddell, two of the SEAM developers, will introduce this revised tool and show samples of the two-part assessment (SEAM and SEAM Family Profile). They will also • highlight the 10 benchmarks on the SEAM • outline administration procedures • describe the research behind the tool • discuss how SEAM results can be used to focus intervention efforts • share how the SEAM Family Profile can be used to assist practitioners in identifying areas where additional guidance may be needed to help parents support their child’s social-emotional developmentTRANSCRIPT
Using the Social-Emotional Assessment/Evaluation
Measure SEAM™ with young children
Jane Squires, Ph.D.Misti Waddell, M.S.
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What is the SEAM?Social-Emotional
Assessment/Evaluation Measure
Programmatic tool for use with children and their adults/caregivers to foster positive social-emotional development
Curriculum-based assessment
3-Tiered Approach to Supporting Social- Emotional Development
Tier 3
Tier 2
Tier 1
Tier 2: Targeted Social-Emotional Support
“Systematic approaches to teaching social- emotional skills can have a preventive and remedial effect.”
Assists practitioners in • prevention and early identification of
social-emotional difficulties and behavior disorders
• development of functional, meaningful, measurable, high-quality goals and intervention content for children and caregivers
• optimizing positive parent-child interactions in the first years of life.
SEAM Purpose
The Linked System Framework
ASQ:SE™Screening
SEAMEvaluation
SEAMGoal
Development
SEAMIntervention
SEAMAssessmen
t
SEAM Components
SEAM
SEAM with Ages
SEAM Family Profile
Environmental Screening Questionnaire (ESQ)
3 Developmental Intervals:• Infant (2-18 months)• Toddler (18-36 months)• Preschool (36-66 months)
10 Benchmarks included in each interval• 3 - 8 items per benchmark
Completed by caregiver or by professional through interview with caregiver
SEAM
Toddler Cover Sheet
Generic Cover Sheet
1. Demonstrates healthy interactions with others
2. Expresses a range of emotions
3. Regulates social-emotional responses
4. Shows empathy for others
5. Shares attention and engagement
6. Demonstrates independence
7. Displays a positive self-image
8. Regulates attention and activity level
9. Complies with daily routines & requests
10. Shows a range of adaptive skills
SEAM Toddler Benchmarks
Allow caregiver to:• rate child’s performance on developmental items• indicate whether item is a concern• select item as a focus area (i.e., intervention goal)
SEAM: Child Assessment Items
SEAM ToddlerBenchmarks
1.0 Toddler participates in healthy interactions. (4)
2.0 Toddler expresses a range of emotions. (4)
3.0 Toddler regulates her social-emotional responses. (3)
4.0 Toddler begins to show empathy for others. (3)
5.0 Toddler shares attention and engages with others. (5)
SEAM Assessment Item Toddler (for developmental range 18-36 months)
✓ ✓✓
SEAM with AgesInfant (for developmental range 2-18 months)
✓ ✓ ✓
1. Prepare with the caregiver for the SEAM assessment process
2. Complete the SEAM assessment
3. Review results
SEAM Assessment Process
Identify administration procedure that meets family preferences and program requirements.
Possible administration methods include:• Home visit
• Parent/child group
• Send home with family
• Parent/teacher conference
Explain assessment purpose and procedures(see following slides)
Preparing with the Caregiver
The SEAM is a tool that provides a way to take a close
look at a child’s social-emotional development.focuses on skills children need to learn in order
to get along well with others, regulate their own emotions and behaviors, and develop a positive self image.
Helps to identify and support your child’s social-emotional development
Explaining SEAM purpose to caregivers
Read each item, consider the examples, and think about your child’s behavior before selecting an answer.
For some items, you may want to observe your child before selecting your response.
Remember, examples are there just to give you ideas about how the behavior might look. Your child may display the skills in a slightly different way.
Explaining SEAM procedures to caregivers
Response Options:There are four options for rating your child’s
behavior:• Very True (Consistently or most of the time)• Somewhat True (Sometimes, though not
consistently)• Rarely True (Only once in a while)• Not True (Doesn’t yet show skill)
Answer based on your personal experiences and what you know about your child.
There is also a place for you to indicate if any particular item is a concern for you or if you would like it to become a focus area or intervention goal.
Explaining SEAM procedures to caregivers
Completing SEAM Assessment
The SEAM and SEAM Family Profile can be completed by caregiver
Interview format is recommended
Include family members / friends if desired
Tailor caregiver participation to match individual needs and desires
Explain SEAM interval’s developmental range and omit questions developmentally irrelevant or culturally inappropriate
Review information with the parent/caregiverExplore differences between
teacher and parent perceptionsDiscuss concernsIdentify possible resources
and strategies Administer SEAM Family Profile
Reviewing SEAM Results
SEAM ScenarioAndrew
Using the SEAM results:1. Summarize Andrew’s strengths
2. Identify two possible intervention goals using the SEAM
SEAM Scenario: Andrew
Andrew’s SEAM
✓
✓
✓
✓
Andrew’s SEAM
✓
✓
✓
✓
SEAM Scenario: AndrewAndrew’s Strengths
• Andrew is curious and active and enjoys playing.• Andrew is affectionate and talks and plays with
others.• Andrew is a happy child; he smiles and laughs.• Andrew likes attention from his family and
engages in activities with them• Andrew seems to feel good about himself and his
accomplishments• Andrew looks at books and listens to stories that
are read to him• Andrew eats a variety of foods• Andrew cooperates with requests
Andrew’s SEAM
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
SEAM Scenario: Andrew
Intervention goals identified from caregiver-selected SEAM Toddler focus areas: After getting upset or engaging in exciting activity, Andrew will
learn to calm himself within 5 to 10 minutes.
While at the childcare center, Andrew will make a smooth transition between activities (e.g. going from to outdoor play to circle time).
After a bedtime story and good-night hug and kiss from his mother and/or father, Andrew will learn to fall asleep and remain asleep throughout the night.
Each morning when his mother drops Andrew at the childcare center, Andrew will separate with minimal upset after she gives him a hug and says good-bye
SEAM Family Profile
SEAM Family Profile
Assessment items address adult knowledge and behaviors that foster social-emotional development in children Assessment identifies areas where caregivers / parents need support and resources in order to provide a safe and responsive environment for their children.
SEAM Family Profile
Uses caregiver-friendly language
Allows caregivers to:• rate their understanding
of, and ability to foster their child’s development in, several developmental areas
• indicate whether they need more information about an assessment item
• select assessment items that are “focus areas” or areas of concern
Family Profile Benchmarks
Benchmarks
1.0 Responding to my child’s needs.
2.0 Providing appropriate type and level of activities.
3.0 Providing predictable schedules/routines.
4.0 Providing a safe home and play environment.
SEAM Family Profile Toddler (for developmental range 18-36 months)
✓
Check the “Not sure/need more info” box if the caregiver needs resources or more information from a professional.
Check the “Focus Area” triangle next to an item if the caregiver(s) would like to target the content addressed in the item.
Consider cultural appropriateness of each item and omit items that caregivers may find intrusive, disrespectful, or inappropriate.
Follow-up with the Environmental Screening Questionnaire (ESQ) if needed.
SEAM Family Profile Considerations
• To develop family outcomes
• To gather new information
SEAM Family Profile: How practitioners used the information--
SEAM Summary Form
SEAM Research
Test-retest Reliability
Inter-rater Reliability
SEAM Interval
DECA 2-12 months
ITSEA 12-36 months
ASQ:SE 3-36 months
Total score Compliance Negative Emotion
Pro-social Total score
Infant .754** .628** -.415* .651** -.557**
N 13 27 26 24 860
Toddler NA .564** -.261** .652** -.516**
N 119 120 120 162
* p < .05, Pearson two-tailed. ** p < .01, Pearson two-tailed.
Concurrent Validity
Mean Scores and Correlation with Age
Age in months N M r
SEAM for infants
235 .35**
0-6 49 84.32
7-12 153 93.49
13-18 33 97.61
SEAM for toddlers
56 .39**
19-24 20 82.39
25-30 19 86.83
31-36 17 92.59
N = 339Average time to complete: 9.38 minutesParents agreed or strongly agreed with
statements:• Questions were appropriate: 92.6%• Questions were useful: 95.3%• Items were clear: 90.6%• Alerted to skills caregiver was unsure about:
59.2%
Utility
From Parents:
• “The SEAM allowed me to put my thoughts out there.”
• “(Our conversation) felt non-judgmental because of the tool.”
• “If there is a concern it can be a helpful way to bring a parent on board.”
Utility
From Providers:
• “I liked having a tool to build from…”• “The SEAM helped me explain what to expect.”• “It felt more like a discovery tool than
judgment.”• “Using the SEAM took out the emotions and
allowed us to be objective—it brings the parent up to the ‘expert’ level.”
• “The SEAM makes it easier for the professional to ask the right questions.”
Utility
SummarySEAM™
Items are all competence skills (i.e., skills we want children to learn or develop)
Non-judgmental assessment (i.e., does not “identify” children)
Can promote conversations with parents focused on social-emotional development
Can be used to develop goals and monitor progress
Includes Family Profile that allows parents/caregivers to identify areas of strength as well as areas of needed support
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Check out our other social-emotional development products http://products.brookespublishing.com/Social-Emotional-Development-C1033.aspx
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Questions and Answers
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