Training & Technical Assistance

What is the Ounce Scale?

The Ounce Scale is an assessment of children birth to 42 months that enables caregivers and families to record, understand, and evaluate young children's development. The Assessment offers parents and caregivers numerous opportunitites to document, monitor, and participate in evaluating their children's progress and accomplishments from birth to three and a half years of age.

Overview of the Ounce Scale

When you spend time watching your baby, you can see that her or she is a special person. Moast babies develop in a similar way. For example, babies usually crawl before they walk, and babble before they talk. Each baby does these things at his or her own pace and in his or her own special way. Taking time to observe each child and to celebrate their development of various skills will encourage continued progress of those skills.
A baby may act differently at different times of the day, if he's tired or hungry, or if you're not around. It's not always easy to figure out what a new baby wants. If you watch them carefully, you will begin to see patterns in the way your baby acts. The Ounce Scale will help you know what to expect and allows you to record your childs milestones in social, cognitive, and physical growth.

The Ounce Scale provides information on the following areas of development:

1. Personal Connections- It's About Trust: How children show they trust others

2. Feelings About Self- Learning About Self: How children show feelings

3. Relationships with Other Children- Child to Child: How children interact with other children

4. Understanding and Communicating- Infant and Toddler Talk: How young children understant and communicate

5. Exploration and Problem Solving- Infant and Toddler Talk: How children explore and figure things out

6. Movement and Coordination- Infants and Toddler in Motion: How children move their bodies and use their hands

The Three Parts of the Ounce Scale

The Family Album is a set of illustrated packets that offer explanations for your child's behaviors and provides space for your memories of his or her developmental milestones.

The Observation Records provide a means for recording detailed feedback on a child's behavior.

The Standards for Developmental Profiles is a set of reference sheets that list examples and details of development.

For additional information, email us.