Creativity in Child Assessment Practices: Experiences with a Developmentally-Appropriate Feedback Model

ABSTRACT Assessment is a foundational part of counseling practice, which includes providing assessment feedback to those evaluated. Though millions of children are assessed yearly, there has been little research surrounding providing assessment feedback with children. In this study, the authors qualitatively explored children’s experiences with a developmentally appropriate feedback model based in creativity, the Young Children’s Assessment Feedback (YCAF). Participants included ten 6 to 10-year old children, who completed a battery of psychoeducational assessments and the YCAF process. Data sources included session transcriptions, session observation notes, child interviews, parent interviews, and expressive arts observation notes. To explore the perceptions regarding the YCAF, the authors utilized interpretative phenomenological analysis to understand the children’s feedback experiences. Findings included the themes: freedom for self-direction, self-concept, therapeutic relationship, affective responses of child, systemic shifts, and developmental considerations. Children in this study reported a variety of benefits and experiences surrounding receiving their own personalized, developmentally appropriate assessment feedback.