Observation and Child

This essay looks at the role of observation in early childhood care and education. It will discuss and examine this role throughout. To work effectively and successfully with children, you must know how to understand them. Developing the skill of observing children and interpreting what you have observed by using reference to your knowledge is the main task. It is by closely observing behaviour that you come to understand the theoretical information derived from research studies into children and their development. The individual needs and abilities of children, their uniqueness, even in a group are only accessible through careful observation. (Hayes,noirin 1999, an introductory text, Dublin, 35) Observing children is a key element of professional work in early childhood settings. It provides the key to understanding a childs development , play and behaviour, and forms the basis of future planning for the child. There are a wide range of observational methods. (donohoe, Josephine. Gaynor, frances 2007 education and care in the early years 99).
Child observation is a professional skill which early childhood workers need to practise and perfect in order to enhance the quality of their work with children. We do this due to the following reasons; to enchance childrens safety, to pay attention to meeting their needs, because it can be informative, interesting or even amusing to listen to their conversations, to understand behaviour, to report back to parents at the end of the session, to make provision for play and finally to keep ourselves informed in a general way about the childs development progress. (donohoe, Josephine. Gaynor, frances 2007 education and care in the early years 100).
Objectivity is about being open minded and suspending judgements. This is essential when observing and assessing, but it can be extremely difficult too.
Parents are a Childs first educator, the draw or write about the interesting things that their child does. Drawing seems to