How does MERIT assess social-emotional development?

MERIT assesses social-emotional development primarily through observations and assessments, which allows educators to gather qualitative and quantitative data about children's behaviors, emotional skills, and interactions with peers and adults. This method provides a comprehensive understanding of a child's social-emotional competencies in a naturalistic setting, where educators can note their responses to various social situations and emotional challenges.

Observational assessments help in identifying strengths and areas that may need support, creating a more personalized approach to each child's development. In contrast to standardized tests, which may not capture the nuances of social-emotional growth, or self-assessments, which can be limited by a child's insight into their emotions, direct observations by trained professionals offer a more reliable and holistic view of a child's social-emotional health. Similarly, while parental feedback can provide valuable information about a child's behavior at home, it serves as one piece of the puzzle rather than the primary method of assessment in MERIT.