Frequently Asked Questions about Ages and Stages Questionnaires
What is the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)?
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire is something that helps parents and caregivers track their child’s development from the time their child is 2 months old to 60 months old (5 years). It was first developed by early childhood development researchers in the 80’s and 90’s, and it continues to develop today. The most recent editions are the ASQ-3, which was published in 2009, and the ASQ:SE-2, which was published in 2015.
Click here to learn more about the history of the ASQ and the people who publish it!
What is the difference between the ASQ-3 and the ASQ:SE-2?
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Third Edition (ASQ-3) covers 5 key areas of general development. These include communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social skills. In the Connections Program, you will be invited to complete an ASQ-3 at the following intervals: 2 months, 4 months, 8 months, 16 months, 18 months, 20 months, 30 months, 42 months, 54 months, and 60 months.
The Ages and Stages Questionnaire: Social Emotional Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) focuses on areas of social emotional development. These include self-regulation, compliance, social-communication, adaptive functioning, autonomy, affect, and interaction with people. In the Connections Program, you will be invited to complete an ASQ:SE-2 at the following intervals: 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, and 60 months.
What if my child has developmental disabilities that unfairly impact their ASQ scores?
We recognize that for some families, completing ASQs can prove to be more stressful than it is helpful. Because of this, we offer a “Navigation Only” program option, in which you do not receive any ASQs but remain enrolled in the program so you can benefit from navigation/resource services.
Do I have to complete ASQs to be in the program?
While we encourage our parents to complete ASQs regularly, we recognize that sometimes it can be a challenge. Life can get busy and complicated, especially for parents and caregivers. Some parents complete nearly every ASQ available to them, while others complete one—or none—during their time in our program and instead benefit from resource navigation and general support. We are here to support your parenting journey no matter how many ASQs you do!
The ASQ link didn’t work for me, what do I do?
There are a few reasons why an ASQ link may not be working properly.
If the page does not load for you, try checking your internet connection. If the ASQ Online website is down, check back in a day. If the site is down for longer than a day, we will do our best to notify Connections families via email.
Sometimes the page will give an error message at the top that says, “Your child is currently outside of the age range for the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ). Please contact the person who directed you to this website.” This means there is an issue with the birthdate you entered. First, double-check that the year, month, and day are correct. If the issue persists, your child may not be within range of an ASQ.
For example, if your child was born two weeks ago, they won’t be eligible to take their first ASQ until they are closer to 2 months old. Additionally, if your child is two months old BUT they were born 4 weeks prematurely, they won’t be eligible to take the 2-month ASQ until they are 3 months old. The ASQ factors in the number of weeks born premature to give you the most accurate and fair questionnaire results.
If you continue to have problems completing an ASQ online, you can always reach out to us via email at connections@familyfutures.org or by calling our office at (616) 454-4673.
What does it mean if my child has low scores on an ASQ?
It is common for children to develop quicker in some areas and slower in other areas. A low score does not necessarily mean you should be concerned about your child or their development. Rather, a low score can help confirm suspicions you may already have about certain areas of your child’s development or draw your attention to areas of development you may not have known about. Your Family Support Navigator will provide you with activities that help your child grow their skills, and if scores are consistently low across multiple ASQs, your Family Support Navigator can help refer you to community services as needed.
Does it cost money to be in Connections?
The Connections Program is funded by donations, grants, and the Ready by Five milage, and these funding sources allow us to provide services without fees.