There are several excellent sources of information about tests and instruments used to measure aspects of children's development.

Frank Verhulst and Jan Van der Ende have written a chapter summarising the main issues alongside introductions to frequently used instruments in a chapter called 'Rating Scales' in Michael Rutter and Eric Taylor's (2002) book Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published in Oxford by Blackwell. Their review covers behavioural scales, such as those produced by Achenbach, Rutter and Goodman, mental disorders, for example the Devereux scales and personality inventories like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.

In the same book, Adrian Angold considers 'Diagnostic Interviews with Parents and Children' and summarises the reliability of well-established instruments such as the CAPA or Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment and DISC, a diagnostic interview schedule for children. These instruments are better suited to clinical use but, by design, are narrowly focused on psychiatric disorder.

In England and Wales, the Department of Health has produced The Family Assessment Pack of Questionnaires and Scales written by Anthony Cox and Arnon Bentovim. These instruments are selected with children in need in mind, covering not only child behaviour but also conditions in the home, parent and child well being and common risks such as alcohol misuse. The scales can be downloaded: http://www.doh.gov.uk/scg/qptch.htm