IGDIs — Individual Growth and Development Indicators — are designed to fit a real classroom schedule. Each measure takes six minutes per child, uses play-based activities children already enjoy, and produces actionable data the same day. Here is how they work and how early childhood programs use them week to week.
- IGDIs take 6 minutes per child and use toys and objects children already play with.
- Results map directly to growth targets, so teachers know what to do next.
- Assessments run on a rotating schedule — not every child every week.
- A free mobile app handles scoring, so paper tracking is not required.
What happens in six minutes
The assessment uses play-based activities: toys, gestures, and movement prompts a child already encounters in their day. The examiner presents objects using a standardized protocol, then records responses using the free IGDIs mobile app. Six minutes is enough time to capture a reliable snapshot that predicts later language and literacy outcomes. Validation studies across more than 4,000 children have shown consistent reliability between examiners.
