Children's Kitchen Task Assessment 

Overview

Author(s): Rocke, K., Hays, P., Edwards, D., & Berg, C.

Year of Publication: 2008

Publisher: Washington University Medicine

Type of Assessments: 

• Standardized

• Performance-based

• Criterion-referenced

• Observation-based

Cost: Free

How to Access: https://www.ot.wustl.edu/about/resources/childrens-kitchen-task-assessment-367 

Age: Children - 8-12 years old

Diagnoses: Typically developing children, ASD, ADHD, Intellectual & learning disabilities, TBI, FASD, Cerebral palsy, Pediatric disorders (Sickle cell disease), other executive functioning deficits

Setting: outpatient rehab, neurological rehab, school-based, transition programs, community rehab

Areas Assessed:

• Executive functioning

• Initiation

• Sequencing

• Safety Judgment

• Organization

• Working Memory

Administration 

Time: 20 mins 

Group/Individual: Individual

Subtests: N/A

Instructions: A pre-assessment questionnaire is administered to determine the child's previous looking and related experiences. 

Through 12-step instructions on how to make playdough, incremental cuing can be offered as long as the therapist works 10 secs before cuing to determine if the client can self-directed

• Instructions are to be put on cards and accompany each photo

• Post-assessment questionnaire ask child to reflect on task performance regarding the amount of help needed and how they could do things differently if given the task again

Materials:

• Score sheet

• Printed instructions

• Supplies to make play dough

User Qualifications: N/A

Scoring Procedures

How to Score: Scores are based on the number and level of cues required to complete each step

• Scores range from 0 = no cues to 5 = doing for the participant

  • 1 = highly organized

  • 2 = slightly organized 

  • 3 = a mixture of organized and disorganized

  • 4 = work area is disorganized

  • 5 = poor organization skills

• Total weighted scores are calculated (0-400), reflecting the number & levels of cues needed to successfully complete the task

Score Indications: Higher scores indicate greater dependence the client has to complete tasks

• Subtask performance can assist treatment planning & development of strategies for greater independence

Psychometrics

Reliability: 

• Interrater: High = .98 

• Internal consistency: Low = .68 (Cronbach's alpha)

Validity: 

• Discriminant: F= 3.83, p <.008 - older children showing improved performance

• Criterion: Adequate - r=-.30-.38

• Concurrent: Moderate between neuropsychological and intelligence tests (r=.30-.38

Pros & Cons

Strengths:

• Versatile - assesses real-world executive function in a task that is relevant across diagnoses and settings

• Performance-based - Observes the child in action 

• Standardized procedures enhance consistent administration and scoring

• Identifies where and how much support a child needs to complete tasks - helpful for goal setting and intervention planning

• Developmentally appropriate activity that can engage a child to complete

Weaknesses: 

• Lacks normative data to compare child's functioning to their developmental or chronological age or diagnosis progression

• Only includes one task that is being assessed and observed - not generalized to all functional contexts

• May not detect a challenge for children with mild executive functioning difficulties to prevent future declines

• Requires appropriate motor control and verbal communication skills to participate effectively

• Asher, I. E. (2014). Asher’s occupational therapy assessment tools: An annotated index (4th ed.). AOTA Press.

• Berg, C., Edwards, D.F., & King, A. (2012). Executive function performance on the Children’s Kitchen Task Assessment with children with sickle cell disease and matched controls. Child Neuropsychology, 18(5), 432-448.

• Rocke, K., Edwards, D., Hays, P., & Berg, C. (2008). Development of a performance based assessment of executive function: the Children’s Kitchen Task Assessment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(5), 528-537.

• Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. (2014, August 1). Children's kitchen task assessment. https://www.sralab.org/rehabilitation-measures/childrens-kitchen-task-assessment 

• WashU Program of Occupational Therapy. (n.d.). Children's kitchen task assessment (CKTA). https://www.ot.wustl.edu/about/resources/childrens-kitchen-task-assessment-367