CHLD 351: Observation Assignment

ASCDL, Toddlers and Preschoolers

80 points

Assignment Goal, Outcomes and Method:

• Students will synthesize information learned through the course and apply that learning
to observations and a written report; providing evidence of understanding of toddler
and early childhood development throughout
• Observations will be completed with pre-recorded videos in an Early Childhood setting
• Students will provide a written report as evidence of their learning

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

1. Open the Observation Assignment Folder
2. Read ALL items in the Observation Assignment Folder
3. View and read all information about observing at the Associated Students Child
Development Lab (ASCDL)
4. Complete the Department of Child Development Confidentiality Form (this will be sent
to you in your Wildcat Mail from Adobe Sign)
5. As soon as you have submitted the CHLD Confidentiality Form, you may advance to
the next step.
a. Any student that does not receive a complete the REQUIRED Confidentiality
Form will only receive up to 50% credit on their project—no exceptions.
6. Begin your Observation Assignment!

Project Specifics:
• APA format
• Respond to each component of the Observation Activity prompt(s)
• Cite the titles of the observation videos you viewed at the beginning of your response
• Each ACTIVITY needs to begin on a new page in your document
• For full credit, cite references to course content

Method:
Students will engage in activities utilizing Observation Videos from the Associated Students
Child Development Laboratory at CSU, Chico.
Please be certain to utilize CHLD 351 course content including the Trawick-Smith text, videos,
additional readings, weblinks and your observation activities to complete answers
empirically.
 CHLD 351: Observation Assignment
ASCDL, Toddlers and Preschoolers
80 points
Observation Activities (please remember, you must first complete the Confidentiality form,
sign and return it before you begin your observations!)

ACTIVITY 1: Observing and Describing Developmental Differences

• Observe two children of very different age levels (e.g., a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old).
You will need to view videos from both the Infant/Toddler Observation Videos folder
and the Preschool Observation Videos folder.
• **Be sure to cite the titles of the observation videos you viewed at the beginning of
your response.
• Take notes (important: you do not need to turn in your notes) on your observations,
focusing on qualitative as well as quantitative differences, as described in the Trawick-
Smith chapter, Research and Assessment in Early Childhood Development.
Write an analysis of how the two children are alike and different, guided by the following
questions:
1) How are the two children alike or different in the ways they interact with peers?
2) How are their methods of communication/language alike or different?
3) How are the two children physically alike or different?
4) How are they alike or different in their thinking?
5) What emotional states did you observe? To what degree do you attribute these
differences to development?
a. **Remember to be objective in your observations – you cannot observe a child
and state “they were mad” (this is subjective). You can, however, observe a
child yelling, stomping, throwing objects on the floor, etc.**

ACTIVITY 2: Communications of Children

• Observe two toddler-aged children. You will use videos from the Maple Room in the
Infant/Toddler Observation Videos folder.
• Be sure to cite the titles of the observation videos you viewed at the beginning of your
response.
• important: you do not need to turn in your observation notes.
Write a report contrasting their interactions in the classroom, based on the following
questions:
1) How were communications of the two children alike? How were they different?
2) Did both children use a variety of words? Did both children construct two-word
sentences? Give examples.
3) Contrast the two children's abilities to communicate. Could both effectively convey
messages? How do you know this?
4) What can you conclude about the children’s communication development?
 CHLD 351: Observation Assignment
ASCDL, Toddlers and Preschoolers
80 points

ACTIVITY 3: Observing Caretaker Attachment Behaviors

• Observe as childcare teachers and caregivers interact with toddlers or preschoolers.
• Take observation notes on their responsiveness and warmth, as described in the
Trawick-Smith chapters about toddler and preschooler’s social and emotional
development.
• Be sure to cite the titles of the observation videos you viewed at the beginning of your
response.
• important: you do not need to turn in your observation notes.
Write about these behaviors, guided by the following questions:
1) What specific responding behaviors did you observe? What effect did these responses
have on children?
2) What warm or nurturing behaviors did you see? What effect did they have?
3) If you observed more than one caregiver, did you see differences in how each
interacted in these areas? To what would you attribute caregiver differences in
warmth or responsiveness?

ACTIVITY 4: Observing Differences in Play

• Observe two different children of approximately the same age as they engage in
motor play at the ASCDL. Take notes on their motor activities. IMPORTANT: remember
that motor play includes both fine motor and gross motor play.
• Be sure to cite the titles of the observation videos you viewed at the beginning of your
response.
• important: you do not need to turn in your observation notes.
Write a report comparing their play, guided by the following questions:
1) What types of play did you observe that were common to both children (e.g.,
climbing games, throwing, running, drawing with a tool in the sand)?
2) What differences did you observe in the two children's play preferences?
3) Did you observe differences in activity level or rough-and-tumble play?
4) Did you see motor activities that appeared to be influenced by gender (for this
observation activity, you may “assume” the gender of each child for the purpose of
this prompt)? To what degree do you think gender explains the choices of motor play
of the two children? Be sure to reference course content as you explain this prompt.

Reminders:
• APA format
• Respond to each component of the Observation Activity prompt(s)
• Cite the titles of the observation videos you viewed at the beginning of your response
 CHLD 351: Observation Assignment
ASCDL, Toddlers and Preschoolers
80 points
• Each ACTIVITY needs to begin on a new page in your document
• For full credit, cite references to course content
• important: you do not need to turn in your observation notes.