Please post your running records and your analysis for the middle childhood observation here. For this observation, you should be observing children between 7 and 12 years old. Please do the same here as you have for previous observations and analyses: find a child in the age range, and observe the for 30 minutes, write an analysis. You may observe a child you know, ask at an elementary school if you can observe for 30 minutes (just make sure they are engaging during that time, to observe a nine-year-old sitting and reading or taking notes won’t give you a lot of data to analyze), or ask here on Pronto if anyone has someone in this age-range for you to observe. Please do the following: I’d like you to do is observe child who is between 7 and 12 Do a running record as you did in the previous observations, writing down everything you see. Include facial expressions and body movements. Include as much language as you can. Complete this as a running record – where you write objectively what you see, without opinions or assumptions. Don’t tell me the child is happy or sad, describe what you’re seeing, and let me decide how they are feeling based on your description. (This should be written as a narrative, not bullet points). Finally, please complete analysis of the observations that include at least three connections. You’re making a connection as you’ve done in the previous observations: connecting what you observed and the terms and concepts from the readings on middle childhood development. Make specific connections: tell me what you observed, what the readings said, and why what you observed is connected to what you read.
Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!
Guide to Completing Your Middle Childhood Observation and Analysis
This assignment requires you to observe a child between the ages of 7 and 12 and analyze their behavior and development based on the concepts learned from your readings. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to structure your observation and analysis:
Step 1: Prepare for the Observation
Before starting the observation, ensure that you have a clear plan:
- Choose a child between 7 and 12 years old to observe. You can choose a child you know, request permission to observe at an elementary school, or ask someone on Pronto for a child within this age range.
- Make sure the child is actively engaged in some activity during the observation. This can be a social activity (e.g., playing with peers), academic activity, or any other interaction where you can observe their behavior, language, and physical movements. Avoid a situation where the child is passively engaged (e.g., sitting and reading quietly) as this won’t provide enough data for your analysis.
Step 2: Conduct the Observation (Running Record)
The running record is a detailed, objective narrative of everything you observe. This means you need to write down exactly what you see without interpreting the behavior or making assumptions. Your goal is to capture the child’s actions, language, facial expressions, and body movements. Here are the steps for your running record:
-
Observe for 30 minutes: Write continuously during your observation. Record the child’s words, actions, interactions with others, body language, and facial expressions in real-time.
-
Describe in detail: Be as specific as possible. For example, if the child smiles, describe how their face looks, whether their teeth are showing, and what the context of the smile is. If they are moving, note the gestures, posture, and body positioning.
-
Keep it objective: Avoid writing subjective comments. Don’t describe what the child is “feeling” (e.g., “she seemed angry”). Instead, write what you see (e.g., “she crossed her arms and clenched her jaw while speaking”). This allows the reader to form their own conclusions about the child’s feelings based on the data.
-
Use descriptive language: Your running record should be like a narrative. For instance, describe a conversation, the tone of voice used, body movements, and facial expressions in detail. If the child is playing with a toy or interacting with a peer, describe the actions step-by-step.
Step 3: Analyze the Observation
Once you’ve completed the running record, you’ll need to analyze your observations based on the developmental concepts from your readings. Here’s how you can structure your analysis:
-
Choose three connections: In your analysis, make at least three connections between what you observed and the developmental concepts discussed in your readings on middle childhood. These might include:
-
Cognitive Development: Look at how the child solves problems, uses language, or processes information. Connect this to cognitive theories like Piaget’s Concrete Operational Stage or Vygotsky’s concept of scaffolding.
-
Social Development: Observe how the child interacts with peers or adults. Are they showing signs of increasing independence, peer relationships, or empathy? This connects to Erikson’s stage of industry vs. inferiority.
-
Emotional Development: Pay attention to how the child expresses their emotions. Are they able to regulate their feelings or communicate them? You could link this to emotional development theories, like those of Goleman or the understanding of emotional regulation in middle childhood.
-
-
Link the observation to the theory: For each connection you make, explain how the observed behavior relates to a particular developmental theory or concept. For example, if the child was solving a problem logically, you could connect that behavior to Piaget’s Concrete Operational Stage, where children begin to think logically about concrete events.
-
Reflect on the implications: Discuss how your observations highlight certain aspects of middle childhood development. For example, did the child show signs of developing self-regulation or peer relationships? How does this reflect key developmental milestones for children in this age range?
Step 4: Writing Your Observation and Analysis
Now that you’ve completed the observation and analysis, structure your report in the following way:
Introduction (Approx. 1 paragraph)
- Briefly introduce the child you observed (age, context of the observation).
- Mention the purpose of the observation (to explore middle childhood development) and what you hope to understand through this exercise.
Running Record (Approx. 2-3 pages)
- Provide a detailed narrative of the 30-minute observation. Include dialogue, actions, body language, and facial expressions. Remember to keep it objective, without interpretations.
Analysis (Approx. 1-2 pages)
- After the running record, analyze the observation by making three connections to the developmental concepts from your readings.
- For each connection, provide a clear description of the observed behavior and link it to the relevant developmental theory or concept.
- Offer insights into the child’s development and reflect on the broader implications of your observations.
Step 5: Edit and Proofread
- Check your paper for clarity, spelling, grammar, and overall flow.
- Ensure your running record is objective and focused on what you saw.
- Double-check your analysis to ensure that the connections you made are clearly explained and supported by evidence from your observations and readings.
By following these steps, you’ll create a well-rounded report that combines observation with a theoretical understanding of middle childhood development. Good luck with your observation and analysis!