The growth and development of the body’s muscles, bones, energy systems, and the nervous system.
Description of setting
This observation took place at the TC home. Immediate context: In the main living room there is lots of cushions around the room, there is wooden floors and the room is quite spacious for the TC. Her mother informs me she is never left on her own in this room because she can wriggle onto the floor from the bean bag.
The mother informs me the TC is put in her cot after lunch at 1 pm every day for a nap for 1 hour. The living room is where the TC like’s to play with her toy’s. Brief description of the child observed: TC is an only child and is six months of age she was placed by her mother on a special bean bag for a child of her age and is awake and making noises, cooing and babbling. She is dribbling quite a lot from the mouth, she is holding her hands by herself the left hand is holding the right hand and she is moving them up to the air whilst making a lot of noise.
I have washed my hands on entering the house and I have now picked up a blue teething ring I give it a little shake on front of TC she immediately looks at it and smiles however she does not reach for the teething ring. This time I put the teething ring in her hand and she puts it straight to her mouth, she sucks on it for less than a minute and drops it she has no interest in the teething ring anymore as I have handed it back to her and she is not taking it. Tc is watching her mother very closely if her mother moves Tc turns her head to look at her mother.
I have observed TC child rub her right hand over her nose she closes her eyes whilst doing this and makes a moaning noise but not quite a cry her arms and legs are moving at the same time and she is becoming frustrated now I make shhhhh noises this does not help. Target child is picked up by mother TC stops making noises mother gives TC drink TC drinks. Mother places TC back on bean bag in the supine position TC has rolled onto floor in an attempt to crawl but she just slides on her stomach. Aim of observation: | From the start, babies want to explore their world.
They are eager to move their eyes, their mouths, and their bodies toward the people and objects that comfort and interest them. They practice skills that let them not only move closer to desired objects, but also move desired objects closer to themselves. As they grow, children’s determination to master movement, balance, and fine-motor skills remains intense.
I feel that this aim was achieved very well. Generally I found that the Childs physical development was within the normal ranges for her age. Her gross motor skills were evident because I observed her lifting her head when lying in a prone position. While some babies of her age may attempt to crawl my TC did not, (Sheridan 1997). In supine position she does lift her arms and feet above her head and from time to time lifts her head above the floor but flops back down on bean bag after a few seconds when she got tired. When he mother placed TC on her lap TC did sit straight supporting her own head she began pulling her sock although she did not sugseeded to getting it off, I did not observe her using a pincer grip but she did demonstrate a palmers grasp on the sock. Motor development
- Rooting and sucking reflexes are well developed.
- Swallowing reflex and tongue movements are immature; inability to move food to the back of the mouth.
- Grasp reflex.
- Landau reflex appears near the middle of this period; when baby is held in a prone (face down) position, the head is held upright and legs are fully extended. Grasps with entire hand; strength insufficient to hold items. Holds hands in an open or semi-open position.
- Movements are large and jerky.
- Raises head and upper body on arms when in a prone position.
- Turns head side to side when in a supine (face up) position; can not hold head up and line with the body.
- Upper body parts are more active: clasps hands above face, waves arms about, reaches for objects http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Child_development_stages
Personal learning
I feel I have learned a lot from this observation as this is the first one I have done, I have learned a lot about what goes into an observation and carrying one out. How they are laid out and how to try being objective as one can, and also the importance of confidentiality. I also learned a great deal about a baby of six months old when you observe them in this manner.
References
- Flood, E. (2010), Child Development for students in Ireland. Dublin: Gill & Macmillan. Sheridan, M. , revised and updated by Sharma, A and Cockerill, H. (1997). From Birth to Five Years. www. wikipidia. org. Child Development.
