Key Developmental Indicators (KDIs)
Within HighScope’s eight content areas, listed below, are 58 key developmental indicators (KDIs) that define important learning goals for young children.
J. Approaches to Learning
1.Initiative: Children demonstrate initiative as they explore their world.
2.Planning: Children make plans and follow through on their intentions.
3.Engagement: Children focus on activities that interest them.
4.Problem solving: Children solve problems encountered in play.
5.Use of resources: Children gather information and formulate ideas about their world.
6.Reflection: Children reflect on their experiences.
K. Social and Emotional Development
7.Self-identity: Children have a positive self-identity.
8.Sense of competence: Children feel they are competent.
9.Emotions: Children recognize, label, and regulate their feelings.
10.Empathy: Children demonstrate empathy toward others.
11.Community: Children participate in the community of the classroom.
12.Building relationships: Children build relationships with other children and adults.
13.Cooperative play: Children engage in cooperative play.
14.Moral development: Children develop an internal sense of right and wrong.
15.Conflict resolution: Children resolve social conflicts.
L. Physical Development and Health
16.Gross-motor skills: Children demonstrate strength, flexibility, balance, and timing in using their large muscles.
17.Fine-motor skills: Children demonstrate dexterity and hand-eye coordination in using their small muscles.
18.Body awareness: Children know about their bodies and how to navigate them in space.
19.Personal care: Children carry out personal care routines on their own.
20.Healthy behavior: Children engage in healthy practices.
M. Language, Literacy, and Communication
21.Comprehension: Children understand language.
22.Speaking: Children express themselves using language.
23.Vocabulary: Children understand and use a variety of words and phrases.
24.Phonological awareness: Children identify distinct sounds in spoken language.
25.Alphabetic knowledge: Children identify letter names and their sounds.
26.Reading: Children read for pleasure and information.
27.Concepts about print: Children demonstrate knowledge about environmental print.
28.Book knowledge: Children demonstrate knowledge about books.
29.Writing: Children write for many different purposes.
30.English language learning: (If applicable) Children use English and their home language(s) (including sign language).
N. Mathematics
31.Number words and symbols: Children recognize and use number words and symbols.
32.Counting: Children count things.
33.Part-whole relationships: Children combine and separate quantities of objects.
34.Shapes: Children identify, name, and describe shapes.
35.Spatial awareness: Children recognize spatial relationships among people and objects.
36.Measuring: Children measure to describe, compare, and order things.
37.Unit: Children understand and use the concept of unit.
38.Patterns: Children identify, describe, copy, complete, and create patterns.
39.Data analysis: Children use information about quantity to draw conclusions, make decisions, and solve problems.
V. Creative Arts
40.Art: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through two- and three-dimensional art. 41.Music: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through music.
42.Movement: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through movement.
43.Pretend play: Children express and represent what they observe, think, imagine, and feel through pretend play.
44.Appreciating the arts: Children appreciate the creative arts.
W. Science and Technology
45. Observing: Children observe the materials and processes in their environment.
46. Classifying: Children classify materials, actions, people, and events.
47. Experimenting: Children experiment to test their ideas.
48. Predicting: Children predict what they expect will happen.
49. Drawing conclusions: Children draw conclusions based on their experiences and observations.
50. Communicating ideas: Children communicate their ideas about the characteristics of things and how they work.
51. Natural and physical world: Children gather knowledge about the natural and physical world.
52. Tools and technology: Children explore and use tools and technology.
X. Social Studies
53. Diversity: Children understand that people have diverse characteristics, interests, and abilities.
54. Community roles: Children recognize that people have different roles and functions in the community.
55. Decision making: Children participate in making classroom decisions.
56. Geography: Children recognize and interpret features and locations in their environment.
57. History: Children understand past, present, and future.
58. Ecology: Children understand the importance of taking care of their environment.
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