Observation of an Infant

Conducting & Writing Observation of an Infant

Now it is time to get to know the baby in more depth. To ensure everyone’s health and safety, the observation will be conducted virtually. Pick 1 video to watch and use this footage as your observation of an infant.  Pretend the baby in the video is the infant from your Infant/ Family Case Study family.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C71gk7wi480&list=PLJl2Nb6ClvEGHs1WN2a33PjzaM4rPBN4G

Your observation should be detailed, descriptive, non-judgmental (objective) and written in chronological order.

When watching the video look for the following:

  • Where the observation takes place? Describe the space in detail. Who was present? 
  • What the baby look like – hair, skin, facial features, body type, and clothing? (if you have seen your Infant/ Family Case Study baby, you can describe them in detail)
  • What the baby does, in general, during your observation?
  • How the baby moves (please include all types of movements)?
  • What the baby looks at, gaze at?
  • What seems to attract the baby’s interest? How can you tell?
  • What toys, materials, and/or furniture the baby uses while you are observing? How?
  • How the baby vocalizes, including cries, babbling, and using real words?
  • What other ways the baby communicates, including facial expressions and gestures?
  • How the baby interacts with people including you?
  • What routines (eating, sleeping, toileting/ diapering, bathing, playing, transitions, etc.) you observe the family engage in? What happens during the routines? How does the baby react?
  • Anything else you notice.

 

Try to notice and record scenarios. Capture the details of interactions between the baby and the environment, including the people in that environment.

 

Observation of an Infant Paper

~3 pages, type written, double spaced, standard 1” margins

 

Purpose: The purpose of the Observation of an Infant Paper is for you to:

  • Enhance your skills as an observer
  • Focus on nuances in a child’s behavior and interactions
  • Create field notes of an observation of a child
  • Document what you observed in a detailed, non-judgmental and chronological format

Task: In this paper, you will summarize what you observed to share what you saw and learned about the infant. This will build on your foundation of knowledge and information for your Commentary Paper. Use the notes from your observation to write a paper that had the following three sections:

  • Section 1: Introduction
  • Section 2: Objective, Sequential Narrative Summary of the Observation
  • Section 3: Conclusion

 

  1. Introduction
    • Provide the following details about the observation:
      • Describe the setting of the observation.
        • Where did the observation take place?
      • Describe the physical space.
        • What furniture, materials, equipment were in the space?
        • How was the furniture, materials and equipment positioned/ arranged?
        • Who was present?
      • Describe the child.
        • How old is the child?
        • Describe the child’s physical appearance — hair, skin, facial features, body type, and clothing.
  1. Objective, Sequential Narrative Summary of the Observation
    • Share a chronological overview of the baby’s actions during your observation.
    • Begin with what happened at the start of your observation.
    • Capture the baby’s behavior, interactions and reactions in descriptive vignettes, or short stories. You should include 4 vignettes/ short stories of what the babies did, and how, from your observation. These vignettes/ short stories should be presented in sequential order. They should describe the baby’s behavior in detail.
      • Use objective, non-judgmental language to describe the baby’s actions, interactions, and reactions.
      • Describe the baby’s behavior and reactions using rich vivid details so the reader can picture the baby’s actions.
    • Close with what happened at the end of the observation
  2. Conclusion
    • Answer the following questions in the final paragraph:
    • What did you learn about the baby during your observation?
    • What struck you from the observation, either while you watching the video or when you were writing your paper?
    • How does this observation connect to what you have learned in class? Make specific connections

 

OBSERVATION OF AN INFANT PAPER CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT

ELEMENT

DOES YOUR PAPER:

Y/N

INTRODUCTION

Include a substantive description of the setting & baby with many rich, vivid details?

 

SEQUENTIAL

NARRATIVE

Have an observation that was written in chronological narrative format with 4 detailed vignettes & what happens at the start & end of the observation, & included a chronological overview of activities?

 

DESCRIPTION

OF THE BABY’S BEHAVIOR

Substantively describe the baby’s vocalizations, behavior, or interactions with & reactions to their environment?

 

OBJECTIVE LANGUAGE

Use objective, non-judgmental language throughout?

 

USE OF

 DETAILS

Use many rich, vivid details to describe the baby’s actions, reactions & interactions with their environment & people so the reader can picture the baby

 

CONCLUSION

Substantively answer the questions outlined with meaningful & reflective responses?

 

CLARITY

The paper was coherent, clear, organized, had many rich, vivid supporting details & had been proofread?

 

 

 

Your observation should be detailed, descriptive and as non-judgmental (objective).

When watching the video look for the following:

  • Where the observation takes place? Describe the space in detail. Who was present? 
  • What the baby look like – hair, skin, facial features, body type, and clothing? (if you have seen your Infant/ Family Case Study baby, you can describe them in detail)
  • What the baby does, in general, during your observation?
  • How the baby moves (please include all types of movements)?
  • What the baby looks at, gaze at?
  • What seems to attract the baby’s interest? How can you tell?
  • What toys, materials, and/or furniture the baby uses while you are observing? How?
  • How the baby vocalizes, including cries, babbling, and using real words?
  • What other ways the baby communicates, including facial expressions and gestures?
  • How the baby interacts with people including you?
  • What routines (eating, sleeping, toileting/ diapering, bathing, playing, transitions, etc.) you observe the family engage in? What happens during the routines? How does the baby react?
  • Anything else you notice.

 

Try to notice and record scenarios. Capture the details of interactions between the baby and the environment, including the people in that environment.

 

Observation of an Infant Paper

~3 pages, type written, double spaced, standard 1” margins

 

In this 3-page paper, you will summarize what you observed to share what you saw and learned about the infant. This will build on your foundation of knowledge and information for your Commentary Paper. Use the notes from your observation to write a paper that had the following three sections:

  • Section 1: Introduction
  • Section 2: Objective, Sequential Narrative Summary of the Observation
  • Section 3: Conclusion

 

  1. Introduction
    • Provide the following details about the observation:
      • Describe the setting of the observation.
        • Where did the observation take place?
      • Describe the physical space.
        • What furniture, materials, equipment were in the space?
        • How was the furniture, materials and equipment positioned/ arranged?
        • Who was present?
      • Describe the child.
        • How old is the child?
        • Describe the child’s physical appearance — hair, skin, facial features, body type, and clothing.
  1. Objective, Sequential Narrative Summary of the Observation
    • Share a chronological overview of the baby’s actions during your observation.
    • Begin with what happened at the start of your observation.
    • Capture the baby’s behavior, interactions and reactions in descriptive vignettes, or short stories. You should include 4 vignettes/ short stories of what the babies did, and how, from your observation. These vignettes/ short stories should be presented in sequential order. They should describe the baby’s behavior in detail.
      • Use objective, non-judgmental language to describe the baby’s actions, interactions, and reactions.
      • Describe the baby’s behavior and reactions using rich vivid details so the reader can picture the baby’s actions.
    • Close with what happened at the end of the observation
  2. Conclusion
    • Answer the following questions in the final paragraph:
    • What did you learn about the baby during your observation?
    • What struck you from the observation, either while you watching the video or when you were writing your paper?
    • How does this observation connect to what you have learned in class? Make specific connections

 

Assessment Rubric (1 point – must meet Learner in all tasks):

ELEMENT

NOVICE

LEARNER

COMPETENT

INTRODUCTION

The paper offered vague &/ or unclear description of the setting &/or baby

The paper included a thorough, description of the setting & baby

The paper included a substantive description of the setting & child with many rich, vivid details

CHRONOLOGICAL NARRATIVE

The observation was written in sequential, narrative format

The observation was written in sequential narrative format with 4 detailed vignettes & what happens at the start & end of the observation

The observation was written in sequential narrative format with 4 detailed vignettes & what happens at the start & end of the observation, & included a chronological overview of activities

DESCRIPTION

OF THE CHILD’S BEHAVIOR

The paper vaguely described some of the child’s vocalizations, behavior, or interactions with & reactions to their environment

The paper thoroughly described the child’s vocalizations, behavior, or interactions with & reactions to their environment.

The paper substantively

described the child’s vocalizations, behavior, or interactions with & reactions to their environment

OBJECTIVE LANGUAGE

The paper used some objective, non-judgmental language.

The paper mostly used  objective, non-judgmental language.

The paper used objective, non-judgmental language throughout

USE OF DETAILS

The paper contained details to describe the child’s actions, reactions & interactions with their environment & people.

The paper used rich, vivid details to describe the child’s actions, reactions & interactions with their environment & people

The paper used many rich, vivid details to describe the child’s actions, reactions & interactions with their environment & people so the reader can picture the child.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion answered what was learned, was struck you or how the observation connected to class.

The conclusion thoroughly answered the questions outlined with meaningful & reflective responses.

The conclusion substantively  answered the questions outlined with meaningful & reflective responses.

CLARITY

The paper was vague, disjointed, &/ or hard to follow at times.

The paper was clear, organized & coherent.

The paper was clear, organized, coherent & had been edited

 

 

Field Notes Form for Conducting Observation of an Infant

Observation of an Infant Paper Power Point S2020

Chart for Writing Observation of Infant Paper Spring 2020

Sample Papers

This web page offers tips about writing non-judgmental observations

This web page offers tips about writing non-judgmental observations