A. Children are always learning; they just can’t help it! Just like when they were babies and toddlers, you can discover what they are learning by spending time with them and observing the growth in their understanding of the world. Observation as an assessment (titled “authentic assessment”) acknowledges growth in understanding and skill level. Unlike standardized testing, it doesn’t give a “snapshot” that attempts to quantify learning at one point in time. It is fluid and flexible and has no preconceived notions about what a child “should” be able to do. You can look at the whole person and concentrate on what your child knows, instead of what your child does not know.