Ask any kid if they like writing tests, and you’ll probably get a resounding “NO!” in reply. Most kids don’t get a lot of fun out of testing, but as adults we recognize the need for a standardized way to determine a child’s stage of development when compared to other children in the same age range. It’s for this purpose that the IQ test for kids was developed. A properly-conducted IQ test for kids can give parents and professionals a great indication of how a child’s mental abilities are developing, and can also help to detect any learning issues that the child may be unknowingly experiencing.
In this article we’ll explore the IQ test for kids, what the test can indicate, and why it’s a great idea to have a child sit an IQ test for kids every couple of years as they grow and develop.
What Exactly is an IQ Test for Kids?
An IQ test for kids, such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or WISC, and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children or KABC assist in assessing a child's cognitive development and in identifying areas of potential concern.
Many people have the perception that IQ tests – including IQ tests for kids – are just a random collection of questions that determines how intelligent the person writing the test is, and this is false. For adults, the IQ test is an effective tool for assessing the intelligence of the test writer compared to the rest of the population. The IQ test for kids does much the same, except instead of testing for the child’s intelligence level, the IQ test for kids tests for the level of cognitive development compared to other children of the same age.
There are a number of different types of IQ test for kids that are used by psychologists, researchers and school systems to test children. The two most popular types are the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children or WISC, and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children or KABC. Both types of IQ test for kids are widely used and have undergone extensive amounts of revision to ensure that they are accurate for the children of today.
Parents must remember that children need to write a different IQ test for kids at different ages. The tests for a child at the age of four are significantly different from those of a young adult. Each IQ test for kids will instruct the test conductor or parent as to which age group it is intended to be used for.
I’m a Parent – Why Should I Use an IQ Test for My Kids?
The main use for an IQ test for kids is to assess a child’s cognitive abilities and development. Having a child sit an IQ test for kids can also help to identify learning or developmental issues that the child may be experiencing, which can then be further explored and diagnosed.
It’s also worth mentioning what parents shouldn’t use the IQ test for kids for: attempting to compare their child’s intelligence level with that of the rest of the kids their age. All children develop their cognitive and memory skills at a different pace; an IQ test for kids can give an indication of where the child is currently, but not where they will be later in life.
A very low or very high score on the IQ test for kids is worth investigating further, with the help of a trained professional such as a psychologist or a child development expert. It’s also worth having the child sit an additional IQ test for kids that is based on a different system, so a true average score can be obtained.
Are IQ Tests for Kids Any Fun?
Most children find at least some aspect of a kids IQ test as being fun and interesting, in particular the KABC IQ test for kids with Rover.
In short, it depends on the child. Some children love the challenge that an IQ test for kids presents, and others will quickly grow bored or frustrated while writing the test and may end up staring out the window. Between the two types of tests listed above, American children seem to prefer the KABC IQ test for kids as there are a number of fun subtests including facial recognition, ‘Rover’, which involves moving a toy bone to a dog through a course containing obstacles, and story completion. While the child may not consider the IQ test for kids fun, many will enjoy at least some part of it.
In all fairness, most adults don’t like taking tests, and this stems from their experience as a child. Kids already have to go through a battery of testing with each year of school, and as things get more challenging they may grow to resent testing. The upside to an IQ test for kids is that since there are so many different areas of assessment built into the different of subtests, there’s something that nearly every child will enjoy or finish quickly, which will pick up their spirits and help them push through to the end.
Mix Things Up with Different Types of IQ Tests for Kids
Modern children – especially younger ones – are usually the hyperactive, always on the go type and sitting down for an hour to write a test may seem boring to some. For this reason, it’s critical that parents try to mix things up by having their child write a number of different types of IQ test for kids. This could mean either having the child write tests based on both the KABC and the WISC, or perhaps splitting up some of the subtests so that the child can write some now, and write some later.
It’s highly recommended to have the IQ test for kids completed in a single sitting, but if the child seems to be starting out the window or not paying attention, it’s worth shortening things to get a more accurate result. Unless the child is suspected to have developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, autism or some other issue, it’s best to help the child complete the IQ test for kids at a pace that works for them.
Remember – an IQ Test for Kids is Just an Indicator!
For parents who are interested in using an IQ test for kids to assess their child’s intelligence and their potential, it’s important to remember that these types of tests are an indicator, and cannot predict the future. As children grow, their intellect and other abilities also grow with them; the IQ score that a child gets on an IQ test for kids at age six may be dozens of points lower than they score at age sixteen. As long as both the parent and child go in to the IQ test for kids with an open mind, there is a lot of information that can be learned from the results.