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"Some elite preschools have admissions criteria more rigorous than the Ivy League," reports Psychology Today (October 2009).  But the magazine asks, "...how accurate is IQ testing for toddlers?"  And it answers...

"The commonly used Wechsler Intelligence Scale evaluates verbal ability based on vocabulary size and clarity of speech."  But the magazine goes on to observe that since a speech therapist can help a toddler with these skills, "how is that testing intelligence?".

In addition, "researchers agree that measurement errors due to fussiness, hunger, and even how well the child likes her questioner are fairly common when testing preschoolers."

Finally, consultant Emily Glickman notes, "a lot of psychological testing is your ability to copy things.  I think that's a test of exposure, not intelligence.  If kids have had practice drawing, if they've learned about farm animals, they're going to do better on tests."

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Being with Babies, an antidote to high pressure testing, is a great resource for both beginning and experienced caregivers. Each chapter describes an issue that caregivers face daily, offers scenarios that illustrate the challenge, suggests solutions caregivers can use to address the issue, and concludes with a review of key points.  Being with Babies teaches caregivers how to handle everyday challenges while learning about developmental stages. This hands-on resource is perfect for caregivers of children 6 weeks to 18 months old, as well as for staff development and resource libraries. Chapters include information on:

• Developing relationships with babies
• Using observation to understand babies
• Communicating with babies
• Selecting appropriate toys
• Setting up safe and effective learning environments for babies

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