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The Theory of Mind Inventory (ToMI) © 2010

Tiffany L. Hutchins, Ph.D., Patricia A. Prelock, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Laura Bonazinga, MA.

INSTRUCTIONS: The purpose of this measure is to learn about caregiver’s ideas regarding children’s thoughts and feelings. Please read each
statement carefully and indicate the degree to which you believe each statement is true for your child. Sometimes, you may feel that you don’t know
for sure whether a statement is true or not. When you feel this way, reflect upon your experiences with your child and try to decide, given everything
you know about this child, how certain you are that the statement is true or not true. There are no right or wrong answers so try to respond as honestly
and thoughtfully as possible. To indicate your response, make a vertical hash mark along the appropriate point on the continuum. If you feel
undecided as to the most appropriate answer, make a hash mark somewhere underneath ‘undecided’ but keep in mind that you can lean toward either
end of the continuum. For example:

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

If you have more definite feelings that the statement is true or not true, make a hash mark along the continuum that reflects those feelings. For
example:

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

To express total confidence in your answer, put a hash mark through the dot at either end of the continuum. For example:

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
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Please indicate your response by drawing a vertical hash mark and avoid other ways of responding:

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

NO

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

NO

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

YES
 For Scoring
Purposes 3
1. My child understands that when someone puts on a jacket, it is probably because he/she is cold.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

1.___________

2. If it were raining and I said in a sarcastic voice “Gee, looks like a really nice day outside,” my child
would understand that I didn’t actually think it was a nice day.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

2.___________

3. My child recognizes when someone needs help.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
3.___________

4. My child understands that when someone says they are afraid of the dark, they will not want to go into a dark room.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

4.___________
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5. My child understands that people can be wrong about what other people want.
For Scoring
Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely Purposes
Not Not

5.___________

6. My child understands that when people frown, they feel differently than when they smile.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

6.___________

7. My child understands the word ‘think’.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
7.___________

8. If I put my keys on the table, left the room, and my child moved the keys from the table to a drawer, my child would
understand that when I returned, I would first look for my keys where I left them.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

8.___________
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9. My child understands that to know what is in an unmarked box, you have to see or hear about what is in that box.
For Scoring
Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely Purposes
Not Not

9.___________

10. My child understands the word ‘know’.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

10.___________

11. Appearances can be deceiving. For example, when seeing a candle shaped like an apple, some people first assume that
the object is an apple. Given the chance to examine it more closely, people typically change their mind and decide that the
object is actually a candle. If my child were in this situation, my child would understand that it was not the object that
changed, but rather his or her ideas about the object that changed.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
11.___________
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12. If I showed my child a cereal box filled with cookies and asked “What would someone who has not looked inside
think is in the box?”, my child would say that another person would think that there was cereal in the box. For Scoring
Purposes
Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely
Not Not

12.___________

13. If I said “Let’s hit the road!” my child would understand that I really meant “Let’s go!”

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
13.___________

14. My child understands that people can lie to purposely mislead others.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
14.___________

15. My child understands that when someone makes a ‘guess’ it means they are less certain than when they ‘know’
something.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

15.___________
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16. My child understands that when someone is thinking about a cookie, they cannot actually smell, eat or share that cookie. For Scoring
Purposes
Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely
Not Not

16.___________

17. My child understands that people can smile even when they are not happy.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

17.___________

18. My child understands the difference between when a friend is teasing in a nice way and when a bully is
making fun of someone in a mean way.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
18.___________

19. My child understands that people don’t always say what they are thinking because they don’t want to hurt others’ feelings.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

19.___________
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For Scoring
20. My child understands the difference between lies and jokes. Purposes

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

20.___________

21. My child understands that if two people look at the same object from a different standing point, they will see the object in
different ways.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

21.___________

22. My child understands that people often have thoughts about other peoples’ thoughts.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
22.___________

23. My child understands that people often have thoughts about other peoples’ feelings.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

23.___________
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For Scoring
Purposes
24. My child understands whether someone hurts another on purpose or by accident.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

24.___________

25. My child recognizes when others are happy.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

25.___________

26. My child can pretend that one object is a different object (for example, pretending a banana is a telephone).

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
26.___________

27. My child recognizes when a listener is not interested.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

27.___________
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For Scoring
Purposes
28. My child understands that, when I show fear, the situation is unsafe or dangerous.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

28.___________

29. My child understands the word ‘if’ when it is used hypothetically as in, “If I had the money, I’d buy a new house.”

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

29.___________

30. My child understands that when a person uses his/her hands as a bird, that the person doesn’t actually think it is a real bird.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
30.___________

31. My child knows how to make up stories to get what he/she wants.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

31.___________
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For Scoring
32. My child understands that in a game of hide and seek, you don’t want the person who is ‘it’ to see you. Purposes

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

32.___________

33. My child understands that when a person promises something, it means the person is supposed to do it.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

33.___________

34. My child is able to put himself/herself in other people’s shoes and understand how they feel.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
34.___________

35. My child understands that when someone shares a secret, you are not supposed to tell anyone.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

35.___________
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For Scoring
36. If I said “What is black, white and ‘read’ all over? It’s a newspaper!” my child would understand the humor in this play Purposes
on words.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

36.___________

37. My child is able to show me things.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

37.___________

38. My child is able to pay attention when I show him/her something.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
38.___________

39. My child understands the word ‘believe’.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

39.___________
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For Scoring
40. When we like others, we are likely to interpret their behavior in positive ways and when we don't like others, we are Purposes
likely to interpret their behavior more negatively. My child understands that previous ideas and/or opinions of others can
influence how we interpret their behaviors.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not

40.___________

41. My child understands that two people can see the same image and interpret it differently. For example, when looking at
this image, one person might see a rabbit whereas another might see a duck.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
41.___________

42. My child understands that if Bruce is a mean boy and John is a nice boy, Bruce is more likely than John to engage in
malicious or hurtful behaviors.

Definitely Probably Undecided Probably Definitely

Not Not
42.___________
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For easy scoring, cut out the ruler below. Scores for each item range from
0 – 20. To score, first align the ruler points 0 and 20 to the end points
(solid circles) located at each end of the continuum. Be sure to estimate
each score to the first decimal point (e.g., 9.4) and avoid rounding to
whole integers (e.g., 9.0).