How to Get Started with Observation
Observation is one of the most powerful tools to get to know your child. It sounds simple, but it isn’t.
Imagine this: your baby has taken a book from her library. She is sitting on the floor, turning pages and looking at each one with great interest. She is talking to herself and couldn’t care less about what you’re up to. She is so engaged in her activity that if you left the room, she wouldn’t notice. What are you thinking about while watching her?
Is it: “What can I get done?”
In our heads, we are running an endless list of things we need to do. We’re trying to pick the one we could finish while our kid doesn’t require our attention.
How many of us think about taking a few minutes to observe our child? His movements, his facial expressions, listening to the sounds he is making? Well, I struggle with this, and I did many hours of observations during my Montessori training.
Emma (10 months) - engrossed in looking at her books
Tips to get started with an observation
Start small - set aside a few minutes a day to observe your child.
Put observation on your to-do list - if it isn’t scheduled, it won’t happen.
Choose one area to observe - it’s easier to watch one thing at a time than trying to follow everything. What can you observe?
whole body movements
hand movements
engagement with toys/activities
concentration
interactions with siblings
language skills
social skills
independence etc.
When observing, don’t interact with your child (unless it’s a safety issue). If your child notices that you watch her, she might stop doing whatever she is working on. Watch without reacting.
Observe with an open mind - don’t suppose what your child is going to do. Observe first.
Take notes – write exactly what we see. Be objective rather than guessing what things mean. Does your child look upset? Describe his facial expressions and what he does/says.
What comes after observation?
Once you finished your observation, review what you dotted down. Reflect on your objective notes. What did you see? Carefully interpret the meaning and come to a conclusion. Then, take new steps and observe again.
Example: Every time your preschooler comes from outside, she leaves her jacket on the floor at the entry door. You decide to observe her in order to find out why she doesn't hang her jacket on the coat rack. You observe the following: Your child comes home, takes her jacket off, looks around, and drops the jacket on the floor. Then she sits down on the bench, takes off her shoes, and puts them under the bench. After reviewing your notes, you decide to go to the entry area. You get on your hands and knees so you’re at your child's level and check what she sees. As you do that, you notice that the coat rack is far from the bench. You conclude that the distance of the coat rack to the entryway is the reason why your child doesn’t hang up her jacket. The next step would be to move the coat rack closer to the bench, right next to the entryway. The next day, when she comes home from school, observe if the step you took worked out. If not, you need to observe again and take new steps. Perhaps you can show her how to hang up her jacket and have her practice.
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