Caregiver-Identified Strengths in Children Attending Their First Neurodevelopmental Assessment: Findings from the Sydney Child Development Research Registry and Development of a Child Strengths Checklist
Saved in:
| Title: | Caregiver-Identified Strengths in Children Attending Their First Neurodevelopmental Assessment: Findings from the Sydney Child Development Research Registry and Development of a Child Strengths Checklist |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Kelsie A. Boulton (ORCID |
| Source: | Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2025 29(7):1769-1781. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Individual Characteristics, Capital (Sociology), Altruism, Interpersonal Competence, Affective Behavior, Music, Memory, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Foreign Countries, Parent Attitudes, Caregiver Attitudes, Children, Cognitive Ability, Interests, Personality Traits, Psychomotor Skills, Behavior |
| Geographic Terms: | Australia |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251325287 |
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: | There has been a growing focus on the importance of understanding strengths in children with neurodevelopmental conditions and how such knowledge can support clinical practices. However, limited research has explored systematic reports of strengths from caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental conditions, most commonly autism. In this study, we explored caregiver-identified strengths in children attending their first neurodevelopmental assessment. Caregivers of 686 children attending a tertiary assessment service answered a survey question about their children's strengths. Content analysis identified 61 unique categories of strengths, which were grouped into six themes: cognitive and intellectual, social and interpersonal, hobbies and passions, character and personality, physical, and behavioural. The most frequently reported specific strengths were kind caring, and compassionate, social and friendly, loving and affectionate, music singing and dancing, and good memory recall. The breadth of positive strengths identified here may reflect the larger population sampled or the diversity of presentations in this cohort. We then present a caregiver checklist, the Child Autism and Neurodevelopment Strengths (CANS) Checklist, that was developed with community representatives, to inform assessment and feedback of child strengths. We discuss what is required to use this knowledge to inform strengths-based practices that can support clinical practice and inform on child development and family well-being. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1474941 |
| Database: | ERIC |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | There has been a growing focus on the importance of understanding strengths in children with neurodevelopmental conditions and how such knowledge can support clinical practices. However, limited research has explored systematic reports of strengths from caregivers of children with neurodevelopmental conditions, most commonly autism. In this study, we explored caregiver-identified strengths in children attending their first neurodevelopmental assessment. Caregivers of 686 children attending a tertiary assessment service answered a survey question about their children's strengths. Content analysis identified 61 unique categories of strengths, which were grouped into six themes: cognitive and intellectual, social and interpersonal, hobbies and passions, character and personality, physical, and behavioural. The most frequently reported specific strengths were kind caring, and compassionate, social and friendly, loving and affectionate, music singing and dancing, and good memory recall. The breadth of positive strengths identified here may reflect the larger population sampled or the diversity of presentations in this cohort. We then present a caregiver checklist, the Child Autism and Neurodevelopment Strengths (CANS) Checklist, that was developed with community representatives, to inform assessment and feedback of child strengths. We discuss what is required to use this knowledge to inform strengths-based practices that can support clinical practice and inform on child development and family well-being. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613251325287 |
