Practice Gym

Assessment Questions: Questions that Get at Past Struggles / Harm

How to sort the questions. Read each question and select the characteristics present in it. Some questions get at past struggles / harm and some don't — you may select more than one where more than one applies. Then hit Check answer.

Question 1 of 16

The characteristics to look for:

Negative BehaviorThe question asks about a harmful behavior — e.g., drinking, hitting, leaving the kids alone.

Impact on the ChildThe question reaches what the child saw, heard, or felt.

Future DangerThe question is about what could happen in the future — not what has already happened.

Neutral / OpenerThe question names no concern — it just opens a topic.

Either Negative Behavior or Impact on the Child gets at Past Struggles / Harm — a question doesn't need both. One that does both is the strongest of all.

Select the characteristics present in this question:

Score: 0 / 0

Which kind of question are you aiming for? Write your question or statement

Tip for a statement: name who is worried, the behavior, what the child saw/heard/felt, and the impact.

Self-check — does your question do all of these?

Names the specific behavior or situation — not "things at home," but the actual thing that happened.
Reaches the child's experience — what they saw, heard, or felt, not just what the adult did.
Is about what HAS happened (harm), not what might happen (that's danger).
Is direct, not euphemistic — it would be clear to the parent exactly what you're asking about.

MODEL"What's the worst thing the kids have seen you do to their mom?" — names the behavior (violence toward mom) and reaches what the children witnessed.