A running record would be most appropriate for which scenario?

• A. A child's favorite book
• B. A child's snack preference
• C. A child's attempt to tie his/her own shoes
• D. A child's mood during nap

Answer: (C)

Running records capture how a child performs a task in real time, noting the steps they take, errors they make, self-corrections, and how long they stay on task. This type of observation is especially useful for recording the performance of a functional, repeatable skill that unfolds in a sequence, such as tying shoes. By watching the child attempt to tie his or her own shoes, you can document which steps they can complete, which ones they struggle with, what strategies they try, and how their independence improves over time. The other situations describe likes, preferences, or mood rather than a skill you can observe and quantify through a running record, so they don’t provide the same actionable data for monitoring progress.