There are several ways of observing and recording a childs behaviour
and development that we use within the setting. Each method has its
advantages and disadvantages as a early year practitioner i need to be
familiar with these methods and match them to the situation i am
observing. Some observations provide more information than others. Open
methods of observation are the most subjective as there is so much
information that you have to make conscious and subconscious decisions
as to what you observe and record. This means there will be things the
child does that you will miss. If you want more objectifity closed
methods are the most useful. A checklist is a good method to use to
help you to focus on an area of a childs development. A checlist on a
childs physical development might bring to your attention on whether
the child is left or right handed. A disadvantage to using this method
is that when obseving the child you may not notice whether the child is
smiling whilst doing the activity.
Below is a table which informs you of each type of observations and what they might be used for. (I used the table in the childrens care learning and development by penny tassoni etc.) The Heinemann one
page number 87.
Hope this helps it has been signed by my assessor.
