Table 1.

Child development outcomes measured by EDI

EDI domains/subdomains	Expected behaviour
Physical health and well-being
Physical readiness for school day	Usually dressed appropriately for school and not tired, late or hungry
Physical independence	Can look after own personal needs appropriately; established hand preference, well coordinated, and does not suck a thumb/finger
Gross and fine motor skills	Physically able to participate in school and excellent or good gross and fine motor skills
Social competence
Overall social competence	Very good ability to play and get along with various children; usually cooperative and self-confident
Responsibility and respect	Respect for others and for property; follows rules and takes care of materials; accepts responsibility for actions, and shows self-control
Approaches to learning	Can work neatly, independently, and solve problems; follows instructions and class routines; easily adjusts to changes
Readiness to explore new things	Curious about the surrounding world, and eager to explore new books, toys and games
Emotional maturity
Pro-social and helping behaviour	Helping someone hurt, sick or upset; offering to help spontaneously; inviting bystanders to join in
Anxious and fearful behaviour	Seldom or never showing anxious behaviours; happy and able to enjoy school; comfortable being left at school by caregivers
Aggressive behaviour	Seldom or never showing aggressive behaviours; not using aggression to solve conflict, not having temper tantrums, and not mean to others
Hyperactivity and inattention	Not showing hyperactive behaviours; able to concentrate, attend to chosen activities, wait their turn, and usually think before doing
Language and cognitive
Basic literacy skills	Has basic literacy skills: can handle a book, identify some letters and attach sounds to some letters, show awareness of rhyming words, know the writing directions, and write their own name
Interest literacy/numeracy and memory	Showing interest in books and reading, math and numbers, and no difficulty remembering things
Advanced literacy skills	Can read simple, complex words or sentences, write voluntarily, write simple words or sentences
Basic numeracy skills	Can count to 20, recognise shapes and numbers, compare numbers, sort and classify, use one-to-one correspondence, and understand simple time concepts
Communication and general knowledge
Communication and general knowledge	Can communicate easily and effectively, can participate in storytelling or imaginative play, articulate clearly, show adequate general knowledge, and is proficient in their native language