Getting Started With This Resource
Materials needed
- Laptop or computer access for each participant
- Spiraled notebooks, paper and pen for journaling notes, 1 per participant
- Printer or printing access on site
- Copies of the Micah and Ms. Mitchell case study for each participant (optional)
Consultant Preparation
Facilitating Use of the Tool in a Group Setting or During a Home Visit:
A. Warm-Up Activity:
Before beginning the IT3, have caregivers think about a specific child and ask them to tell you a bit about the child and their reaction style. You can help generate thought by asking the following questions: How old is the child? Who do they most like to be with?, Which experiences do they enjoy most?, What word(s) first come to mind when you think of this child?, etc. You will need to jot a few notes while the caregiver is speaking. You may use their comments later to assist them in answering the assessment questions or as reference when you discuss specific “goodness of fit” strategies.
B. Preparing Participants
C. Completing the Assessment
D. Reviewing Results/Incorporating Recommendations
After both parts of the assessment have been completed (adult and child), a series of auto-generated outcomes and recommendations will appear which will assist in supporting “goodness of fit”.
Review with parents and caregivers each outcome and recommendation. Have them provide you with examples of how they might successfully integrate the recommendations offered by the tool and add this information to the reflections section of the printout. For example, if a caregiver has a tendency towards distractibility while working with a less distractible child, because there is a difference here, one recommendation will be to “follow the child’s lead in play”. Maybe this could be done during free play time in the center. Each difference in temperament will generate several recommendations, and you can work with the adult to identify the one or two that might be the best fit based on her knowledge of the child or together you may generate new ideas! Help the parent or caregiver generate practical ideas on integrating this strategy by asking the following questions: What types of experiences is the child particularly fond of (for example, music, art, outside play, etc.)? At what time does this experience generally occur? What might be the impact of extending the length of the experience? How might you maintain greater focus and engagement during the experience?
When there is similarity between the temperament of the child and parent or caregiver, reflect together on what current strategies appear to be working well to support the goodness of fit. Confirm with them the accuracy of the results (Does it appear true based on their daily interactions with the child?) and discuss which strategies should be continued and enhanced.
Encourage participants to add a few specific ideas to support this child onto the reflections/planning section of the auto-generated summary.
E. Share Reflections and Ending Thoughts for Consideration
Share some of the following tips/reflections with caregivers and encourage them to consider these when working with adults to better manage issues related to temperament and to support “goodness of fit”. May want to open up discussion by asking what other helpful hints participants might have for using this information.