Child Development Observation (infant)

Child Development Observation

Melissa Hillard

ECE205: Introduction to Child Development

Instructor:  Sara McBryde

June 21, 2015

CHILD DEVELOPMENT OBSERVATION

        From the moment of birth development begins.  Physical and motor development, social-emotional development, self-help development, cognitive and language development are some of the domains.  With information from the textbook, Early child development: From theory to practice (Groak, McArthy & Kirk) and observations of the video, Palsdaycare (2010) an observation summary as well as a discussion of the developmental stages and domains, typical development and development support strategies will be reviewed for infants 0 – 12 months.

 Observation Summary

         The video, Palsdaycare (2010), shows three infants, approximately the same age, and a caregiver sitting in the floor playing with wooden blocks.  One infant uses his thumbs to hold a wooden block, but drops it after a short while.  Each of the infants are sitting independently but appear to wobble and have jerky motions, they all look around showing awareness of things going on in the room.  The infant wearing the bib put the block in his mouth and later puts his arm to his mouth.  The same infant seems to try to give his block to the infant sitting next to him.  One of the infants puts his block into a plastic bottle.  The infant in the striped sweater seems continuously distracted by something off camera and does not appear interested in the block he is holding.  

Developmental Stages and Domains

        During the first year of life infant’s learn about the world around them.  Each infant is different, but they share common developmental milestones that serve as a guideline for development. The developmental stages and domains for an infant 0 -12 months are:

Physical and motor development: Responsive to sound and touch, can follow objects with eyes, sucks and grasps objects, hold objects using thumb, often puts objects in mouth, transfers object from one hand to the other.  

Social-emotional development: Sense of trust develops as well as attachment to caregiver.  Can recognize people, shows affection for others, explores environment, and mimics motions like waving and clapping.  

Self-help development: Eat with fingers, hold own bottle, grasp a cup, reaches out to be held, sits without assistance, reaches for objects and pull themselves pull up to standing.  

Cognitive development: Learning develops through the five senses and reflexes, develops object permanence, gains an awareness of cause and effect, uses hands to explore environment, Language development: