Purpose and Objectives
This assignment addresses two of the Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for CDE 7. The first is to “Describe development of children from conception through adolescence in the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive domains (SLO 1). And second, “Apply knowledge of development and major theoretical frameworks to analyze child observations” (SLO 2).
Objectives for this assignment are to:
Observe infant and toddler development in action, identifying milestones of development
Analyze actions and interactions in relation to theories of learning and development
Explain how temperament traits can impact how a child interacts with others and their environment
Before You Begin
Read this assignment completely, including the sample observation, template for submission, and the grading rubric. If you have questions about this assignment and/or how it will be graded, reach out to your instructor for clarification before you submit your work.
This observation assignment will use a series of videos of infants and toddlers for you to analyze. Your task is to write objective observations and document a variety of developmental milestones based on those observations. You will also connect your observations to theories of development that we have studied and analyze temperament traits. There is a Sample Infant Toddler Observation and Analysis for your reference.
Assignment Requirements
Section 1: Observing a 6-Month-Old Infant (12 points)
Watch the three video clips of Mason:
Animal Shapes Book with Infant
Encouraging Infant to Reach
Pulling the Airplane
Select one or two significant actions or interactions to document in an Anecdotal note or Running Record for Mason. Record your observation using objective language and include enough detail to justify your selection of milestones and the analysis of a developmental theory.
Document at least three milestones in different domains.
Include the text of the milestones, the domain and age associated with each milestone, and an explanation for why the milestones were selected.
In Chapters 4, 5, and 6, you will find milestones lists that document skills that are typically achieved by children at specific ages. Chapter 4 includes Gross and Fine Motor milestones; Chapter 5 includes Cognitive and Language Milestones; and Chapter 6 documents Social-Emotional milestones. You will notice these are organized by age. (Children rarely have just the milestones listed for their current age, so be sure to review milestones for ages just below and above the age of the child observed.)
Make a connection to a theory of learning and development.
Be sure to include the name and key aspect of the theory/theorist, and an explanation of how you saw the theory in action. Also, include the chapter or page number where you found the information on the theory/theorist.
Theories help guide us to understand children’s growth and development. The key theories in Child Development were introduced in Chapter 1 and revisited in Chapters 4 through 6. Connect your observation to a theory we have covered in class (such as Vygotsky’s theories related to Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding, Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development, Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development, Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, or Skinner’s theory related to Operant Conditioning).
Section 2: Observing a 10-Month-Old Infant (15 points)
Watch the six video clips of Ava:
Baby Plays with Container
Imitating Tongue and Clapping
Mom Using Math Talk
Playtime with Mom
Pretend Phone
Baby on the Move
Write in an Anecdotal note or Running Record (include the title(s) of the videos you selected to use)
Document at least three milestones in different domains.
Include the text of the milestones, the domain and age associated with each milestone, and an explanation for why the milestones were selected.
Make a connection to a theory of learning and development. (Connect to a different theorist than previously cited.)
Be sure to include the name and key aspect of the theory/theorist, and an explanation of how you saw the theory in action. Also, include the chapter or page number where you found the information on the theory/theorist.
Discussion of Temperament Traits
Refer to the Week 4 video on temperament traits and the discussion of temperament in Chapter 6 of our text.
Using your observations, identify two Temperament Traits that might be demonstrated by Ava in the videos. Explain why you selected these two traits and how you think Ava might rate on the scale for these two traits, (i.e., high/low, positive/negative, etc.)
Provide a brief explanation as to why understanding a child’s temperament would be helpful in building a positive relationship, (referencing either the video on Temperament Traits or our text).
Section 3: Observing Toddlers (13 points)
Watch the two video clips of different toddlers:
Where’s the Ball?
Toddler Cleaning Up Blocks
Select one of these two toddlers and write in an Anecdotal note or Running Record (include the title of the videos you selected to use).
Document at least three milestones in different domains.
Include the text of the milestones, the domain and age associated with each milestone, and an explanation for why the milestones were selected.
Make a connection to a theory of learning and development. (Connect to a different theorist than previously cited.)
Be sure to include the name and key aspect of the theory/theorist, and an explanation of how you saw the theory in action. Also, include the chapter or page number where you found the information on the theory/theorist.
Analyze caregiver influence on Language Development.
Select a portion of the video you observed, and write out the language interaction. Your record must include the verbal and nonverbal responses of both the child and the adult-like a little scriipt, (about 10 seconds of the video).
State whether you felt the adult was supporting or inhibiting language development (pick one). If they were supporting language development, describe the strategy they used and why it supported language development. Or if they were detracting from language development suggest something they adult might have done differently.
Section 4: Observing an Older Toddler (10 points)
Watch the two video clips of the same older toddler:
Using Tongs
Cover Off
Write in an Anecdotal note or Running Record (include the title(s) of the videos you selected to use)
Document at least three milestones in different domains.
Include the text of the milestones, the domain and age associated with each milestone, and an explanation for why the milestones were selected.
Make a connection to a theory of learning and development. (Connect to a different theorist than previously cited.)
Be sure to include the name and key aspect of the theory/theorist, and an explanation of how you saw the theory in action. Also, include the chapter or page number where you found the information on the theory/theorist.
