Climate of Healthy Interactions for Learning and Development (CHILD)

The CHILD focuses on the quality of the social and emotional climate in early childhood care and education settings. The social and emotional climate is characterized by authentic warmth and friendship, developmentally appropriate and child-centered instruction, equitable treatment of children, and a genuine interest in children’s well-being and development. The CHILD instrument is comprised of nine dimensions and 28 behavioralspecific items that assess social interactions including staff-child, child-child, and staff-staff interactions; verbal and nonverbal behaviors, and overt and subtle cues; and issues of equity and inclusion.