Title: (Optional) Evaluate a childcare product.
Course: Family and Consumer Sciences Exploratory III (19251-9) > Section: Applying Education and Early Childhood Concepts

Evaluation should include consideration of developmental stage/age and product functionality, design and aesthetics, materials, safety considerations, and durability.

Evaluation may include

- toys
- books
- clothing and shoes
- food products
- hygiene products
- feeding implements (e.g., utensils, highchair)
- safety products (e.g., booster seats, car seats)
- sleep products (e.g., swaddling products).

Teacher Resources:

- Caring for Children I: Before Babysitting, 4-H Family Sciences, Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Caring for Children II: Babysitting Basics, 4-H Family Sciences, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- How might one determine the developmental stage of a child product?
- Why would a product not be suitable for a child?

Communication

- How could you stress the importance of safety?
- How could you inform parents of the product dangers?

Leadership

- What FCCLA project could be used to help you better evaluate a product?
- How could you use a product as a teaching tool?

Management

- Would a given product have a positive or negative affect on the child?
- How could you provide feedback on the evaluation of the product?