Top 3 Validated Child Assessments Every Therapist Should Know

Running unreliable or non-validated child assessments can lead to misdiagnosis, inconsistent treatment plans, and a lack of trust between therapists, parents, and institutions. When child assessments aren't backed by research or standardization, the results can be vague, biased, or misleading, impacting a child’s mental health.

BlockSurvey’s premade, validated child assessments solve this by offering proven reliability, clear interpretation guidelines, and clinical relevance. These tools are grounded in research, ensuring accurate measurement of child behaviors.

With validated assessments, therapists can confidently identify issues like bullying, impulsivity, or parental dynamics, and tailor interventions that truly support the child’s well-being.

Why Validation Matters in Child Assessments?

Validation is the backbone of any psychological assessment, especially in the context of children, where early findings can shape long-term development. When an assessment is validated, it has been scientifically tested to ensure its accuracy.

Below are a few reasons why validation of child assessments matters.

Accuracy in Diagnosis: Non-validated child assessments may mislabel normal child behavior as pathological. Validated assessments reduce the risk of misdiagnosis, helping professionals distinguish between normal behavior and real concerns in children.

Reliability across Contexts: Validated child assessments are consistent and reproducible. Whether administered in a clinic, school, or online, they offer dependable results that therapists can trust, leading to informed decisions when it comes to children.

Tracks Progress over time: Validated tools include standardized scoring and norms, which allow professionals to track a child’s growth or response to treatment over time in a meaningful way.

In the following sections, you will be introduced to 3 child development-related assessments.

• Child Adolescent Bullying Scale (CABS)
• Impulsivity Scale for Children (ISC)
• Nurturant Fathering Scale (NFS)

Child Adolescent Bullying Scale (CABS)

Purpose: The Child Adolescent Bullying Scale measures experiences of bullying and victimization among children and adolescents who are currently enrolled in a school setting, aged 6 to18. This captures both physical and emotional aspects.

Why use it in therapy:

• Helps identify patterns of bullying or peer victimization.
• Supports early intervention for trauma, low self-esteem, or school refusal linked to bullying.
• Facilitates communication between the therapist, the child, and the parents regarding social dynamics.

When to use it: Use when a child shows signs of social withdrawal, emotional distress after school, or has disclosed incidents of peer aggression.

Possible Outcomes:

Outcomes
Low/no exposure to bullying
Moderate exposure to bullying
High exposure to bullying
Very high/severe exposure to bullying

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Impulsivity Scale for Children (ISC)

Purpose: The Impulsivity Scale for Children assesses impulsive behavior patterns in children, including difficulties with inhibition, emotional control, and delayed gratification.

Why use it in therapy:

• Useful for diagnosing or monitoring ADHD, conduct disorders, or behavioral challenges.
• Provides insight into executive functioning deficits.
• Supports the creation of behavioral interventions and coping strategies.

When to use it: Use when school-going children exhibit risk-taking, emotional outbursts, or trouble following instructions despite understanding them. Created by Tsukayama, Duckworth, and Kim.

Possible Outcomes:

Outcomes
Low Impulsivity
Average Impulsivity
High Impulsivity

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Nurturant Fathering Scale (NFS)

Purpose: Nurturant Fathering Scale evaluates the degree of warmth, involvement, and emotional support provided by a father or father figure from the child’s perspective.

Why use it in therapy:

• Reveals gaps or strengths in paternal-child relationships.
• Helps assess attachment patterns and emotional development.
• Informs family therapy strategies and parenting interventions.

When to use it: Use when exploring family dynamics, emotional support systems, or during interventions for behavioral or emotional concerns in children.

Possible Outcomes:

Outcome
Higher scores indicate greater perceived nurturance from the father

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Conclusion

Using the above validated assessments ensures that therapists and educators have reliable, research-backed tools to understand the child's emotional and behavioral well-being. These instruments go beyond surface-level observations and provide structured insights that help professionals make informed decisions.

For therapists committed to delivering ethical, effective, and holistic care, using these validated assessments is not just a best practice—it’s a necessity.

Explore our templates gallery and start using other validated assessments.

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