observation help needed!!!

[natalie85]

I need to complete a childs observation of a childs development areas. I need step back and observe in these areas (physical, communication, intellectual/cognitive, social, emotional, behavioural and moral) please help!!!! any ideas.
I need to set an activity up for the children in my setting ages 3-4.
could someone please help xx

[Ruthierhyme]

Hi, would this help with what you already know ..

• What muscles do children exercise whilst they play and what descriptive words can you use to describe those movements - use to see if they are then appropriate and expected levels of development for the age & stage of the children with you.
• Who with and how do children communicate, verbally and non verbally; using body language - look at, talk to, make noises at, point, touch, listen, focus on and hear.
• How do children investigate, join and connect, concentrating and focusing on something that interests them. How do they then use what they already know/existing knowledge to develop and expand that understanding Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development.
• Who do they interact with - are they alone/solitary, look for the company of adults, enjoy a single friendship, group play, enjoy being with others but maybe prefer quiet detached play - Mildred Parten's stages of play on wikipedia
• What emotions do children display during their play - understanding childhood.net
• What behavioural development do children demonstrate - responding to positive and negative stimuli: a hit for a hit, shout for a shout, anger for anger, smile for a smile, a thank you for a generous gesture, do they initiate inclusion, extend an invitation to others, join others who are at play with comfort/ease, imitate a role model eg: superhero play, repeat rule setting statements given on occasions by staff, parents, friends, someone the children have seen and consider successful/powerful ...
• What moral development do they show - knowledge and understanding of right and wrong - what hurts another what doesn't (why it does/doesn't hurt could be viewed as cognitive development, maturity and involves self esteem/confidence) making choices and responses.

Maybe observe play on a climbing frame or play with sit and ride toys.
The role play area - dressing self or play with small world figures & scenarios. Or possibly observe the happenings around & with a table top activity - puzzles, mark making, threading, focus craft, or the sand/water play area.

Who comes, who goes, who stays, who touches, picks up, threads, examines, replaces, talks, looks, smiles, laughs, fills, empties, interacts with others, throws, cries, cuts with scissors, lets another go first, requests, refuses ..

Hth xx

[natalie85]

Thankyou,
were currently aving our outdoor area redone, so would not be able to do a observation on a climbing frame etc.
what do you think about doing snack?
children cutting there own bannans up, choosing there own snack/drink. will cover physical, social.
any ideas??? xx

[Ruthierhyme]

Hi yes, snack time is good, it's also a great activity to evaluate & justify the reasons for a particular snack format.

One perspective is cafe style, rolling snack or a snack bar Surrycc.gov.uk and another is whole group snack staffordshire.gov.uk - is a good read & also details self service snack & learning goals, outcomes for practitioners information.

Each helps to highlight what a setting hopes to provide for the children & how the children respond to that provision socially, emotionally, physically, morally, access cognitive learning opportunities and can evidence children's behavioural observances - taking more foods than an adult would nutritionally expect, removing/adding foods secretively, hiding food, throwing food, sharing own food where it might be unexpected or percieved as unneccessary, showing others chewed food, meaningfully knocking over/dropping foods alonside other PSE behaviours - hitting, pushing, snatching ..

It might also be interesting to see where a setting operates a snack bar system how event planning for transitions or other festivals/occasions utilises a whole group snack approach.

Hth xx