In today’s world, preschoolers, kindergartners, and children in the early elementary grades are required to take many tests throughout the school year. All this testing has had a negative impact on what and how children are taught, how they learn, and on their healthy development.¹ Children should have rich learning experiences in the early school years that allow for active, play-based experiential learning. They need opportunities to make friends and develop social skills, to develop creativity, the capacity for problem solving, and a love for learning. The increase in the use of tests with young children has led to more drill-based instruction of the specific skills tested. The most reliable approach to assessing young children’s learning is through ongoing observations and individualized assessments by skilled teachers and assessments of children’s work over time. Click to download the Fact sheet.
