Observation

SLCC FHS
Sean Speirs
Observation 1

Background information
Childs age: 23 months
Fictitious name: Jamal
Location: SLCC Community daycare
Brief Description: There were eight children, one worker in the room of the one to two
year olds. Play toys, games, and tub full of water.

Physical Development
As I walked into the daycare, I noticed that Jamal walking abilities, they were just
as good as we had learned in class and in the texted book. In the textbook, it says a six
month babys legs are too chubby for there underdeveloped muscles. (Berger, 2014, p.
104) Jamal height was a little above average compared to the other kids at the daycare. I
would place him at the 60-65% on the percentile chart. (Berger, 2014, p. 112)
When I was observing Jamal It seemed as if Jamal was behind his classmates on
catching objects. For example the teacher caregiver would say Everyone get in a circle
and catch the ball when I throw it. She would then lightly toss the ball and one by one
the kids would catch it. Jamal was the only kid that was unable to catch the ball.

The one think I did noticed was Jamal was ahead of the other kids with carrying
large toys. There was this chart on the wall that was the same size as the kids. Jamal was
the only kid that was able to carry it.

Intellection/Cognitive Development
Jamal was behind his other classmates as of talking. Which is completely fine
because infants start learning how to talk at the age of two. (Berge.2014, P.120) Jamal
was able to say a lot of the basic words. He normally just yelled when he wanted
something. Jamal was not able to multi-task. For example, the Caregiver told him to go
put away the toys and go sit in a circle for story time. Jamal put the toys way and then
just stood there with a blank face after. He was not able to process everything that was
asked of him.
I noticed he was ahead of most of the classmates on most of the Fine Motor
Skills. (Berge, 2014, P. 103) Jamal was able to tie his shoe already. Most of the other kids
werent able to. He also was able to draw a lot better than the other kids. It was not just
scribbles.
It seemed like he was not really able to write. In the daycare where I was at it was
about even on the kids that were able to write and the kids that were not. So I didnt think
that he was far behind because he was not the only once that couldnt.

Social/Emotional Development
Jamal had an attachment to a toy. The whole time that I was observing Jamal had
a toy horse with him the whole time. I believe that was a transitional object. (Berge.

2014, p. 140) Like when a baby gets used to sleeping with a certain blanket, it would be
able it sleep with out it. That horse was Jamals transitional object.
I also noticed that he has a attachment with the caregiver. When she left the room,
he would sit and cry until she came back. That is an unsecure attachment. (Berge, 2014,
p. 145)

Reference:
rger, K. S. (2014). Invitation to the life span (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.