The monitoring zone helps programs identify a child with skills that are not below the cutoff but may need close attention and monitoring. This zone represents a range of scores that are at least 1 but less than 2 standard deviations below mean performance in each developmental area. When a child's score falls in the monitoring zone, your program has several options. Your program may decide to schedule a follow-up screening for the child, perhaps in 3 months. Your program may also choose to send learning activities to the child's parents to encourage practice of skills in a certain developmental area. Activities are provided in the User's Guide (and available online) and in the ASQ-3 Learning Activities.

Your program also has the option of referring children with scores that fall in the monitoring zone. Programs are encourages to use the monitoring zone in the way that works best for them.