Pre-School Behavior Checklist (PBCL)

This quick, 22-item screening tool is designed to help pre-school professionals who may be concerned about a child's behavioral and emotional difficulties. The PBCL provides an objective assessment of behavior, and thereby helps to decide when intervention is necessary. It is then possible, at an early age, to identify children who may be at risk of later developing serious behavioral problems.

Administration and Scoring
The checklist consists of a series of items within specific areas, including soiling, temper, fears, worries, and moods. The examiner describes the degrees of usually observed behaviors. Scoring is completed quickly. The total score can be compared to criterion cut-off scores which indicate the possibility of behavioral or emotional problems. Individual item scores give information regarding specific behavioral areas. Results from the PBCL assist with the planning of management programs for the individual child.