Child Observation
Tommy Griffiths
PSY-3320
Robin Muse
October 8, 2012
Child Observation
For this project I chose to visit and observe a preschool program oriented towards the mentally-impaired child. This small school is near my military installation, although it is not directly associated with it. Most of the families who enroll their children in the school are military personnel, and the director is a military veteran. There are eight 4-and 5-year old children in the group, and each of them has some special difficulty in the emotional or mental realm. The physical environment is a building that has been partially converted into a school. The atmosphere is homey and friendly, and the director is as relaxed as if she were inviting the families, the children, and me over for a friendly chat over coffee.
This program is a half-day arrangement, and day care is not provided. The educational and mental health curriculum is intended for enrichment and specific assistance to children and families that have identified some difficulty in their child's behavior or development. Most of the children come through referral from the local mental health center. The instructor carefully screens each family and makes certain requirements for parental involvement in the program. Each parent assists for a few hours each month, partly to keep the tuition costs reasonable, and more importantly to allow the parent to observe the child within the group and to be directly involved in the instruction of the children.
The director explains to me that she is working especially diligently with a particular child, Sarah, a 5-year old who has been in this program for two years. She has been evaluated by many specialists, and it has been determined in a rather general way that she is learning disabled, although the exact components of her difficulties have not yet been determined. The child's behavior is unusual in that she treats other children as objects and tends to repeat behaviors in a rigid manner.
PSY-3320
Robin Muse
October 8, 2012
Child Observation
For this project I chose to visit and observe a preschool program oriented towards the mentally-impaired child. This small school is near my military installation, although it is not directly associated with it. Most of the families who enroll their children in the school are military personnel, and the director is a military veteran. There are eight 4-and 5-year old children in the group, and each of them has some special difficulty in the emotional or mental realm. The physical environment is a building that has been partially converted into a school. The atmosphere is homey and friendly, and the director is as relaxed as if she were inviting the families, the children, and me over for a friendly chat over coffee.
This program is a half-day arrangement, and day care is not provided. The educational and mental health curriculum is intended for enrichment and specific assistance to children and families that have identified some difficulty in their child's behavior or development. Most of the children come through referral from the local mental health center. The instructor carefully screens each family and makes certain requirements for parental involvement in the program. Each parent assists for a few hours each month, partly to keep the tuition costs reasonable, and more importantly to allow the parent to observe the child within the group and to be directly involved in the instruction of the children.
The director explains to me that she is working especially diligently with a particular child, Sarah, a 5-year old who has been in this program for two years. She has been evaluated by many specialists, and it has been determined in a rather general way that she is learning disabled, although the exact components of her difficulties have not yet been determined. The child's behavior is unusual in that she treats other children as objects and tends to repeat behaviors in a rigid manner.