Importance of Observing and Recording Children’s Behavior
Children have many ways of expressing themselves and we can begin to understand what those ways are by observing them, listening to them, and ultimately recording these observations.
8 reasons to track the children in your program by observing and recording
· Keep track of a child’s emotional, social, cognitive and physical development over time.
· Identify a child’s strengths and interests.
· Identify concerns that you may have about a child
· Decide how best to respond in a certain situation
· Figure out how to handle problem situations
· Improve your physical environment and materials.
· Modify your curriculum/daily routine
· Give specific examples of behavior to share with parents
Recording helps you organize your observations about a particular child and about the children as they learn and play together either singly or in a group.
The following suggestions may be helpful in order to begin observing and recording the children in your group:
· Develop a recording system that works for you.
· Make a plan for who you will observe and what you will observe
· It can be formal, or as easy as making “sticky notes” notes
Observing and recording is not a passive process. You as the observer may be a part of an observation that you observe. By observing and recording the child in a variety of settings and with a focus on the different areas of development, you will gain a richer picture of the child, which will assist you in responding to their needs.
Combining the written observations with samples of children’s art, writing and photos, you establish an active dialog with the child and his/her family, even as the child is growing and changing. Reflecting on these observations allows you to gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which children interact their environment and construct meaning.
The time invested in observations is small in comparison with the benefits.
Adapted from Child Care Algoma, Canada