Parental permission is described as the first step of any observation and screening activity. Which option lists this correctly?

• A. Parental permission
• B. Scheduling
• C. Developing forms
• D. Communicating with parents

Answer: (A)

Obtaining parental permission first establishes informed consent before any observation or screening of the child. This step makes clear to families what will be observed, why it’s being done, how the information will be used, and who will have access to it, protecting the child’s privacy and aligning with ethical and legal expectations in early childhood settings. Without this consent, conducting observations could violate rights and erode trust. Scheduling, developing forms, and communicating with parents are important parts of the process, but they hinge on the permission being granted first: you can’t responsibly schedule or collect data without parental consent, and you’ll typically discuss and share details with families as part of obtaining and continuing consent.