Defenition of Child Observation Essay Example

her 12-year-old sibling refused but eventually agreed and began creating a play dough frog for her.

Meanwhile, Varsha's mother interrupted her playtime to remind her about completing her homework. However, Varsha resisted doing her homework at that moment. In response, her mother provided a compromise: Varsha could play for a short while and then finish her homework afterwards. To ensure that Varsha didn't exceed the agreed-upon playtime, her mom set a timer for 10 minutes. This approach of offering choices and setting boundaries demonstrates how Varsha's mom supports her playtime while also prioritizing academic responsibilities.

(page 59 chapter 3 in Gonzalez Mena) Varsha arrived to complete her homework upon hearing the timer sound and began working. However, she was suddenly stumped by a math subtraction problem.

She turned to her mom for assistance, fully trusting that her mom could help her. Initially, her mom tried explaining the math problem (25-6=19), but she didn't understand it. So, her mom took 25 black beans and placed them on the table, instructing Varsha to count and remove 6 beans. Varsha followed her mom's instructions and after taking away the 6 beans, she counted the remaining ones, revealing that there were 19 beans left.

Varsha successfully solved a math problem and was proud of her accomplishment. This incident highlights the bond between Varsha and her mother, which fosters trust. This positive interaction enables Varsha to independently pursue other math problems and fosters her ability to take initiative and develop a sense of self-determination (Page 36 Bowlby attachment behaviors and page 49 Chapter 3 Self-Help skills).

After completing her homework, Varsha's mother rewarded her with a sticker as a source of encouragement. This made Varsha

happy, prompting her to quickly affix the sticker to her accomplishment chart on the refrigerator. Subsequently, she unleashed her imagination by creating a booklet filled with drawings. When asked about her artwork, Varsha revealed that she was drawing "Pusheen The Cat." This choice was influenced by her fondness for cats, as well as receiving a cat-themed book named Pusheen on her birthday. The resulting picture was truly impressive, depicting Pusheen the cat in outer space donning a space suit, with a glimpse of Earth visible in the background.

According to Gonzalez Mena in her book "About imagination and fantasy" (Page 78, Chapter -4), Varsha's creative thinking skills are demonstrated in her ability to contemplate space and Earth. Later, when Varsha felt hungry, she asked her mom for cookies and chips. She approached her mom and quietly requested that she give me some chips. The mom informed me that Varsha intended to share some chips with me. I appreciated Varsha's generosity and we proceeded to enjoy snacks together.

The passage reminds me of the concept of prosocial behavior mentioned in Gonzalez Mena, specifically in chapter 5 on page 120. It illustrates that the author's family members practiced and promoted prosocial behavior both within the household and in their interactions with others. The example provided is of the author's friend instructing her daughters to go to the nearby park from their house.

Varsha joyfully exclaimed "yay" as we proceeded to the park, with her mother holding her hand while crossing the street. Her mom provided guidance on how to safely navigate the road. Upon reaching the park, Varsha released her mother's hand and eagerly sprinted towards the swing. However, she

was unable to secure a turn.

According to the book "Teaching morals by promoting prosocial developments" (page 120, chapter 5), she patiently waits for her turn while a boy is swinging on the swing. Her willingness to wait demonstrates her cooperative nature during play.

Varsha had the opportunity to swing and requested her mom or sister to push her higher. As she swung, she hummed a song and enjoyed it for 20 rounds. After getting off the swing, Varsha joined her sister at the play structure, where they both tried the slide. After playing on the slide for some time, Varsha's sister challenged her to catch her before reaching the spider web play structure. Filled with energy and determination, Varsha enthusiastically pursued her sister and successfully caught her.

Varsha, who had recently emerged victorious, was filled with joy and communicated her elation through loud screams. In addition to engaging in play with other youngsters at the park, she demonstrated her aptitude for social interaction. (Page 326- Gonzalez Mena- Socialization) Eventually, our departure was signaled by my companion, leading us all back to our respective homes.

At 5:30 pm, Varsha, her sister, and their mom said goodbye. Varsha hugged me and asked if my daughter could join them for a playdate in the future. I agreed and left.

My Reflection

Watching "Varsha," a young child, was both enjoyable and enlightening. I gained valuable understanding about the importance of allowing children to make their own decisions instead of forcing our own choices on them. As a childcare professional, I can provide options to help children find alternatives to saying "No." For example, when Varsha initially refused to do her homework, her mother gave

her the option to play within a specific time frame. Similarly, I can use positive reinforcement like Varsha's mother did once she finished her homework successfully. This approach acts as an incentive for children to persist in their achievements.

Through the observation and analysis of a child's attachments, it has been discovered that family involvement is vital in supporting a child's overall development. By directly observing a child, valuable information can be gathered regarding their activities, relationships with others, level of trust, and independence. It is essential to acknowledge that observing a child in specific situations necessitates patience and time. As a childcare educator, this observation serves as a reminder for me to proactively set appropriate boundaries when encountering similar circumstances.

An initiative like reinforce and redirect is implemented to manage conflicts between children, offering them choices instead of simply saying "No." The application of Erikson's stages of development can be observed in Varsha, highlighting the importance of positive interaction and encouragement from caregivers in fostering trust, autonomy, initiative, and mastery in a child's developmental journey. As a childcare professional, I actively engage families to ensure the well-being and proper development of the child, enabling them to navigate the world confidently without neglect or fear. This approach aims to promote socialization and cultivate responsible citizenship within the community.

Here is one of Varsha's imaginary drawings of "Pusheen The Cat" that she created during the observation.