Observation 2: Infant
# The purpose of the second observation is to help you focus on the development of infants. Be specific and cite examples of behavior/observations which illustrate points to be made.# You are asked to observe one child aged 5 to 12 months and not walking. Please observe the child for a minimum of 45 minutes.
# The final report should consist of 6 sections:
1.The Setting:
a. The date
b. The time period including starting time, ending time and the time of the day
c. Describe the physical setting. Be specific.
d. Tell something about the family background.
e. Identify the number and type of adults who are present- caregivers, parents, etc. Include the ratio number. (Example: there is one adult for every 3 infants.)
2. Description of the Infant:
a. Specify the child's name, age, sex, and other pertinent information.
b. Note such physical characteristics as skin, hair, nails, eyes, teeth. Include his/her weight and height, head circumference. Describe his/her body proportions as compared with newborn.
3. Motor Development:
a. Describe the infant's control of his/her trunk. Note the ability to lift chest while lying prone, rolling, sitting, and moving into or out of a sitting position with or without help. You are describing upper torso control. Be as descriptive as possible. You may have to watch an action two or three times to be able to describe it effectively.
b. Describe the infant's control of his/her arms, hands, fingers. Note random waving, reaching for objects, grasping with one or both hands, with or without thumb opposite to fingers, showing hand to mouth coordination and hand preference. Describe how this baby grasps - uses fingers or fist. How the baby uses his/her eyes to guide hand movements: accuracy of reach, etc.
c. Describe the infant's control of his/her legs and feet. Describe such things as pushing with feet when lying down, making stepping movements, when held in a standing position, supporting his/her own weight partially or wholly when held erect: random waving of legs and feet.
d. Describe the infant's combination of bodily controls. Note such items as pulling self to standing position, standing with or without support, getting down from standing position, wiggling and squirming when lying down, scooting along in a sitting position, crawling with abdomen on floor, creeping onto furniture. Describe as accurately as possible how the baby walks, pulls self up, using arms or legs. How does the baby crawl? Describe movement/motion as accurately as possible.
4.Cognitive Development:
a. Sensory perception: Describe the infant's ability to perceive taste, smell, sound, temperature, texture, form, size and distance.
b. Language: Describe the infant's response to and use of language. Note such items as his/her response to a human voice, random sounds, smiling or laughing aloud, non-verbal gesture, understanding of simple words and/or commands, making sounds which have meaning to a familiar person, and using recognizable words.
c.Imitation: Describe the infant's imitation of sounds, words or movements such as "peek-a-boo, "patty-cake," or other simple gestures.
5.Social Development:
a.Describe the infant's social behavior. Note such items as responding differently to a familiar/unfamiliar person, preferring to be with someone rather than left alone; responding when spoken to; recognizing familiar voices or sounds; responding to a mask or strange facial expressions; responding to own name.
b.Describe the infant's response to separation from primary caregiver or mother. Observe the way in which the mother or primary caregiver holds the child. Does the infant appear to be secure or insecure? How does the infant hold his arms? What type of body posture do you observe when the infant is being cuddled, soothed, etc.?
c.Is the infant willing to venture away from the primary caregiver/mother? Does he/she appear to be distressed when "home-base" (mother/caregiver) is out of sight?
6.Emotional Development:
a.Delight: Record the stimulus and response for any of the following emotional displays: elation, affection for adults, and affection for children.
b.Distress: Record the stimulus and response of any of the following emotional displays: angry, fear, disgust. Was the infant mad overly anxious by any situation?