Additional Notes for Clarification of the Updated ITERS-R

In 2006, the new updated edition of the ITERS-R was published. Featuring a new spiral binding, the updated ITERS-R offers more practical assistance in the form of additional notes for clarification and an Expanded Score Sheet, which incorporates notes and tables to assist in scoring. However, the items and indicators remain the same as in the original ITERS-R.

These notes were developed by Thelma Harms and Debby Cryer to improve the interrater agreement among North Carolina Rated License Assessors.  These notes do not change any of the requirements in the printed scales, they merely add additional information to help in accurate scoring.

Be sure to replace older notes with newer notes.
Most recent changes are in blue:

6/30/09: General Notes ("much of the day" clarification)

Much of the day: In most items, “much of the day” is associated with the children’s access to materials typically used indoors (e.g., books, art materials, fine motor or dramatic play toys). It means most of the time that any child may be awake and able to play. If children are prevented from using materials for long periods by overly long routines when the children have to wait with nothing to do, being kept in groups that they are not engaged in, or being kept in areas where access is not possible, then credit cannot be given for “much of the day.” Appropriate group activities in which children are engaged and interested for short periods that match their abilities are permissible as long as they do not significantly affect access to materials throughout the rest of the day. If children (or any child) who are ready to play are prevented from reaching and using materials for a total of 20 minutes during a 3-hour observation, then “much of the day” cannot be given credit. The 20 minutes can be calculated as one 20-minute time period, or may be calculated as a combination of smaller time periods that equal 20 minutes. “Much of the day” should be considered separately for each item where the requirement appears. In some cases credit might be given on one item for much of the day, while not given for another item.

If children are kept outdoors for extremely long periods (1/3 of the day or more), thus limiting access to materials typically used indoors, then to give credit for “much of the day”, such materials must be provided outdoors as well.

Special attention should be paid to individual children who may not have the same access to materials as do the other children. For example, non-mobile children or children who are confined in a playpen may not have the same access to play materials as the other children in a group. For non-mobile infants, all required toys or materials do not have to be accessible at the same time during the whole observation because of problems with clutter. However, there must be clear indications that the required variety and numbers of materials are accessible at various times during the day. A cranky baby who needs close physical contact to be soothed may not be “ready to play” and thus not require access to materials during the “cranky” times.