Early childhood teachers must have the ability to engage in the planning cycle

Sample Solution

Record of Observation

Child's First Name: Olivia

Child's Age: 18 months

Observation:

Olivia is playing in the block area with two other children, Mia and Noah. She is carefully selecting blocks of different sizes and shapes and stacking them on top of each other. As she builds, she vocalizes, making sounds like "uh-oh" and "wow" when she successfully places a block or when the tower starts to topple. Mia and Noah are watching Olivia's tower with interest. Mia tries to copy Olivia by stacking her own blocks, but her tower quickly falls over. Noah points at Olivia's tower and says, "Big!"

Full Answer Section

Olivia's play in the block area demonstrates her developing physical, cognitive, and social skills. She is showing fine motor skills as she selects and manipulates the blocks. She is also demonstrating object permanence, as she understands that the blocks can be stacked on top of each other. Olivia's vocalizations show her emerging language skills, and her interaction with Mia and Noah shows her developing social skills.

This observation aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity. Olivia is demonstrating her self-confidence and independence as she plays with the blocks. She is also expressing her creativity and imagination as she builds her tower.

This observation aligns with the set text "Theory of Development and Learning in the Early Years" by Berk et al., which discusses the importance of play in children's development. Play provides opportunities for children to explore their environment, learn new skills, and develop relationships with others.

This observation aligns with the National Quality Standard (NQS) Quality Area 1: Educational Program and Practice. The NQS emphasizes the importance of providing children with opportunities to engage in play that is appropriate for their age and stage of development.

Ideas for Future Planning:

• Provide Olivia with a variety of different building materials, such as wooden blocks, cardboard boxes, and construction paper.
• Encourage Olivia to play with peers by providing opportunities for group play activities.
• Observe Olivia's block play to see if she demonstrates any new skills or interests.

I can use this observation to plan learning experiences for Olivia that will support her development in the following areas:

• Physical development: Provide Olivia with opportunities to practice her fine motor skills, such as picking up small objects, threading beads, and using crayons and finger paints.
• Cognitive development: Provide Olivia with opportunities to explore cause and effect relationships, such as by stacking blocks and watching them fall down.
• Social development: Encourage Olivia to play with peers by providing opportunities for group play activities, such as circle time and cooperative games.

By providing Olivia with opportunities to play and learn in a supportive environment, we can help her reach her full potential.