Charles 1

Observing Play
Observation of an infant (5 months) - Emma
Emma lays on the floor on her belly with her arms in front of her. In front of her is
a brown teddy bear with a small circular mirror on its stomach. The teddy bear is
propped up in the sitting position in front of her.
Emma reaches for the bear and grasps the bears foot. She looks intently at the
foot in her hand. Emma opens her hand and then closes it again, grasping the
bears foot a second time. She then pulls the bears foot towards her, grasping it
with both hands as it comes closer. She brings the foot up to her face and opens
her mouth. As the fury foot touches her mouth, she brings it back and looks at it
again with curiosity. She squeezes the foot her hands and then brings the foot
back to her mouth.
Interpretation of types of play
The types of play that Emma is using can be categorized into Sensorimotor play
Emma is exploring the bear with her senses. She is touching, tasting, and
looking at the bear all ways that infants explore the world around them.
Interpretation of adult roles & strategies
The roles that an adult might take in this type of play situation would be that of an
observer. Observing is the main role an adult takes on when working with infants.
It allows them to assess the childs progress and needs. Another role would be
as a Stage manager. This means setting up the environment in a way that best
suits the childs development. Certain strategies that an adult might do is to use
language and demonstration to help build on infants play.
Observation of toddler at play (27 months) - Hudsin
Hudsin is sitting at the table. There is blue play-dough on the table as well as
truck play-dough toys. One play-dough toy is a concrete mixer truck with a shoot,
and the other is a dump truck.
Hudsin picks up the play-dough and starts to fill the concrete mixer truck. He
stuffs is full and closes the hatch of the truck. He then brings the dump truck over
and places it under the concrete mixer shoot. He reaches for the handle and tries
to turn it so that the play-dough will come out the shoot. He tries to turn it by
himself but is unable to get a good start. He looks up at his older brother and
says Colin, can help me? Can help me, Colin?
His brother reaches over and turns the handle until play-dough comes out the
shoot. Hudsin then says my turn and pushes his brothers hand out of the way.
Hudsin grabs the handle again and this time is able to turn it enough so that the
play-dough comes out. The play-dough falls down the shoot and lands in the

Charles 2
dump truck at the bottom. Hudsin smiles, looks at me, and squeals Lee-ana,
look! I smile back at him and say you did it! Wow! Hudsin turns his attention
back towards the play-dough and continues to turn the handle and watch the
play-dough come out.
Interpretation of types of play
The type of play that Hudsin is using is Constructive play he is manipulating the
play-dough to create something.
Interpretation of adult roles & strategies
The roles that an adult might take on is a co-player the adult would join the
play, but let the children control the play., as well as play tutoring in which the
adult would take that opportunity to teach the child new ways to use the playdough and different things that he can make/do with it. The strategies that that
adult would use would be both language and demonstration. Hudsin is old
enough now that some of the demonstration can be done not just through
actively showing him what he can do, but telling him what he can do and letting
him figure it out himself.
Observation of preschooler (5 years) Bradin
Bradin sits on the floor with his younger brother (3). Around him are wooden
blocks of different shapes. Some are squares and some are rectangles. Next to
him are two trucks one a dump truck, and the other a loader truck. Bradin looks
at his younger brother and says ok, you back up the dump truck and Ill load the
cargo in. The younger brother grabs the dump truck and backs it up to the
loader saying beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep. Bradin takes the loader and
pushes it forward into the wooden blocks, scooping up 3 at a time. He backs it up
and then moves it forward towards the dump truck. Reaching it, he tips the
loaders bucket and watches as the wooden pieces fall into the back of the dump
truck. The younger brother looks at him and says good job, Bradin. That was
awesome. Bradin nods his head and replies thanks, brother and moves the
truck towards the blocks, scooping up another load and dumping it in the dump
truck.
Interpretation of types of play
Both Bradin and his brother used constructive and games w/rules cognitive play
they manipulated the blocks and the trucks to create something, and agreed on
the roles that each of them were to play (also called cooperative play) They were
also showing group social play because they were working together to attain a
common goal.
Interpretation of adult roles & strategies

Charles 3

The role of the adult in this play situation could be as a player and/or mediator
just in case they need a little help talking out any differences that might come up.
Tied into that is also the role of the interpreter the adult can help the children to
understand different points of views. Some strategies might include building on
the childs play by offering different ways to use the trucks and blocks together.
Observation of school-agers at play (8 years). Micah
Micah ran into the garage dressed in snow gear, and said I need a sled! He
grabbed a long green sled and ran out around the house to the backyard. He
stopped running and slowly walked up the hill towards his brother (5). He yelled
you wanna have a race? and reached the top. His younger brother replied
yeah, but you have to give me a head start. Micah protested and said nu-uh,
we have to go at the same time in which his brother replied fine. Micah
positioned his sled facing down the hill, and sat down to wait until his brother was
ready. When his brother had sat down, he then said ok, Ill count to 3 and then
well go. One, two, three! he then put both hand down on the snow beside him,
and pushed himself forwards. Both brothers slid down the hill and came to a halt
at the bottom Micah in front of his brother. He slid out of the sled and said I
won! in which his brother replied no fair, youre bigger! Micah said you want to
go again? and his brother responded yeah, Im gonna win this time. The two
boys then reached down to grab their sleds, and then started running back up
the hill.
Interpretation of types of play
The type of play that Micah had with his brother was Games with Rules. The two
brothers decided to race against each other and see who got the farthest on the
sled.
Interpretation of adult roles & strategies
The role of the adult in this play situation could be a couple of things. 1. Mediator
often times in race games there tends to be issues because of the win/lose
factor. 2. Player 3. Interpreter again, often times in race games there tends to
be issues because of the win/lose factor; so being there to help the kids
communicate could be helpful. Strategies would be to offer different ideas and
games that the boys could do with the sleds maybe thinking up a game that
isnt a win/lose type of game, but rather a teamwork game. Brainstorm with the
boys about their ideas!