What should be measured in a child?

I believe there should be an instrument that measures the whole child as an entity. This is probably because no single test can measure the complexities of the human brain (Berger,2012).Leading developmentalists are…those who believe that humans have multiple intelligences, not just one(Berger,2012).As such measuring one single aspect of the child, I believe, does not constitute measurement itself. As Berger says, children may inherit a set of abilities, some high, some low, rather than a general intellectual ability (Zhu et al,2010).

If there would be an instrument that could measure Gardner’s seven intelligences(Linguistic,Logical-Mathematical,Musical,Spatial,Bodily-kinesthetic(movement),Interpersonal(social understanding),and intrapersonal(self understanding),each associated with a particular brain region(Gardner,1983);it can go a long way at measuring the child’s abilities, particularly if the eighth intelligence(Naturalistic; understanding nature…and a ninth(Existential; thinking about life and death)(Gardner,1991,2006:Gardner and Moran,2006)

Assessment of school aged children in Nigeria

School aged children in Nigeria are mostly subjected to measurement in academic performance, regardless of their abilities/disabilities. In Uyo, Akwa Ibom State (South-Southern Nigeria),a study of children with behavioral disorders was conducted in 2006 (April to July);using  Rutters  scale for teachers.

Iloeje also posits that there is considerable evidence that children with chronic illnesses have increased levels of emotional and psychological disturbances, which may lead to a psychiatric disorder.

I would personally advocate for an all encompassing instrument that could measure the child in his/her entirety as against measuring a single sphere of the child.

REFERENCES

Berger,K.S(20120.The Developing child Through Childhood. New York, NY: Worth Publishers

Gardner, Howard.(1983).Frames of Minds: The theory of multiple intelligences, New York, NY: Basic Books.

Gardner, Howard. (1999). Are there additional intelligences? The case for naturalist, spiritual, and existential intelligences. In Jeffrey Kane (Ed.) Education, information, and transformation: Essays on learning and thinking (pp.111-131).Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merril.

Gardner, Howard, & Moran, Seana (2006).The science of multiple intelligences theory: A response to Lynn Waterhouse. Educational Psychologist, 41, 625-635.

Iloeje S. Rutter's behaviour Scale (B_{2_}) for children (Teacher's Scale): Validation and Standardization for use on Nigeria Children. J Trop Pediatr. 1992;38:235–239.

Rutter M. Why are London children so disturbed? Proc Roy Soc Med. 1973;66:1221–1229.