Abstract
This study aimed to verify the reliability and construct validity of the CRAYON BOOK, a comprehensive assessment tool designed for early childhood education settings. The CRAYON BOOK assesses five domains: environment and daily life, comprehension, concept formation, consent, and self-expression. Data was collected from 96 children attending four nursery schools in Japan, whose parents consented to their participation. The children's behaviors were observed and evaluated by nursery staff using the CRAYON BOOK. To assess reliability, Cronbach's α was used, confirming high internal consistency across all domains (α = .844 to .982), with an overall scale reliability of .989. Construct validity was analyzed using structural equation modeling, and the results indicated a high goodness-of-fit across all indices. The findings suggest that the CRAYON BOOK is a reliable and valid tool for assessing children's development in early childhood education settings. It allows for the collection of quantitative data, which can help clarify the relationship between educational practices and children's growth. The CRAYON BOOK fills a significant gap in Japan's early childhood education by providing a standardized, practical tool for daily use by teachers, offering insight into both immediate developmental outcomes and potential long-term social and economic effects of early education. Future research should focus on expanding data collection to kindergartens and certified nursery schools to further validate its applicability across different educational settings.
https://ror.org/01fyk0v41 
