ABSTRACT. Background. The Functional Independence Measure (WeeFIM) for children is a simple-toadminister scale for assessing independence across 3 domains in American children. WeeFIM was based on a conceptual framework by the World Health Organization (1980) of pathology, impairment, disability and handicap, and the "burden of care." WeeFIM is useful in assessing functional independence in children aged 6 months to 7 years. It can be used for children with developmental disabilities aged 6 months to 21 years. Normative WeeFIM data had been validated for American children. Because of cultural and environmental differences among countries, normative data for the Chinese population are needed. With a normative database, the progression of independence at home and in the community can be evaluated.WeeFIM is an 18-item, 7-level ordinal scale instrument that measures a child's consistent performance in essential daily functional skills. Three main domains (selfcare, mobility, and cognition) are assessed by interviewing or by observing a child's performance of a task to criterion standards. WeeFIM is categorized into 2 main functional streams: "Dependent" (ie, requires helper: scores 1-5) and "Independent" (ie, requires no helper: scores 6 -7). Scores 1 (total assistance) and 2 (maximal assistance) belonged to the "Complete Dependence" category. Scores 3 (moderate assistance), 4 (minimal contact assistance), and 5 (supervision or set-up) belonged to the "Modified Dependence" category. Scores 6 (modified independence) and 7 (complete independence) belonged to the "Independent" category. The WeeFIM is a 7-level criterion-specific ordinal scale. Level 7 requires no assistance for the child and the child completes the task independently without requiring a device. During the task, there is no concern about safety or taking an inordinate amount of time. Level 6 reflects modified independence and includes use of an assistive device or not completing the task in a timely or safe manner.Objective. To examine the utility of the WeeFIM in Chinese children and to create a normative WeeFIM profile suitable for Chinese children.Method. Direct interviews were conducted for 445 normal Chinese children, aged 6 months to 7 years, in the community.Results. 1. WeeFIM total score and 3 domains subscores versus age. The total WeeFIM scores increased progressively with age, reaching a plateau at 72 months.There was a progressive increase in subscores of selfcare, mobility, and cognition independence between 6 to 62 months, especially between 6 to 45 months. Similarly, the WeeFIM self-care subscores increased progressively with age, reaching a plateau at around 72 months. The WeeFIM mobility subscores increased progressively with age, reaching a plateau at around 54 months. The WeeFIM cognition subscores increased progressively with age, reaching a later plateau at around 80 months.2. WeeFIM subtotal scores versus age. The total WeeFIM score and 3 domain subscores correlated significantly with age. We further classified the 18 items into 3 ...

O b j e ct i veThere has been no study on the developmental stage of acquiring the skill of using chopsticks, which is a common eating tool of the Orientals.We aimed to obtain a developmental profile for achieving the skills of chopsticks manipulation in Chinese children and to assess the correlation between chopsticks manipulation and the level of achieving independence in 'eating' item in the Functional Independence Measure of children (WeeFIM).We also studied the relationship between demographic and environmental factors and the age of achieving chopstick manipulation. M e t h od s Direct interview with the mothers of 445 non-disabled children who were randomly selected from the community. A chopsticks score (CS) of 1 was defined as children who could use chopsticks to finish more than half the meal, and a CS of 0 as failure to do so. R e s u l t s The mean age of achieving a CS of 1 was 4.6 years. At 6.7 years, all these children achieved this skill.There was a significant relationship between age of achieving the skills of chopsticks and the level of attaining independence in 'WeeFIM eating' score. (P < 0.001) However, there was no correlation of age of achieving CS of 1 with sex, social class or the presence of a domestic helper.