A screener for social-emotional readiness for kindergarten

Some children have excellent kindergarten readiness skills, yet lack the social maturity and/or exhibit behavioral problems that may interfere with future academic performance. The Kindergarten Inventory of Social-Emotional Tendencies (KIST) was designed to provide information to parents and teachers about the social-emotional status in children ages 4-6.

The KIST has seven domains that report standard scores, percentile ranks, and classifications based on the standardization sample norms or local norms.

The seven KIST domains are:

• Communication Skills - assesses the child's expressive and receptive language skills.
• Daily Living Skills - assesses the child's adaptive behaviors such as dressing skills.
• Hyperactivity/Inattentive Behaviors - assesses behaviors often associated with inattention and hyperactivity.
• Maladaptive Behaviors - assesses conduct problems.
• Separation Anxiety Symptoms - assesses how well the child separates from the caregiver(s).
• Sleeping and Eating Behaviors - assesses the child's eating and sleeping patterns.
• Socialization Skills - assesses the child's peer interaction skills.

The KIST also includes a validity scale that measures the consistency of the rater's responses.

The KIST Assessment Program Components

• KIST Starter Set (Product #1000-7000) Includes:
  • 2 packages of 25 KIST Rating Forms (Product #1000-7100)
  • 2 pads of 25 KIST Interpretation Forms (Product #1000-7150)
  • KIST Administration and Technical Manual (Product #1000-7200)
• KIST Rating Forms (Product #1000-7100)
  • Sold in packages of 25.
  • Printed on NCR paper - scores are tabulated while the form is being completed.
• KIST Interpretation Forms (Product #1000-7150)
  • Sold in pads - 25 sheets per pad
  • Used to identify the critical items on the KIST that would warrant educational interventions or follow-up evaluation.
• KIST Administration and Technical Manual (Product #1000-7200)
  • Includes administration directions, technical properties of the test, and standardization norms.