Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Your Assignment Module Number and Heading: CHCPR509A
Your Assignment Type: Standard Question
Currently Working in Childcare? No
Your knowledge: Beginner

Your Question?
Explain the primary purpose for observing young children in early childhood settings

What is your answer so far or What have you done so far as an attempt to solve this question?
To define observation in the general sense assumes that one simply looks or watches. For early childhood professionals, however, the term 'observation' within the context of the early childhood education and care environment involves much more than this. Observations for us should not only entail looking and watching but also listening, questioning, reflecting and documenting what we see and interpret in order to identify and support a child's strengths, needs, interests and development.

Description and Message:
is this on the right track to answering the question, i would love to hear feed back

But WHY are you observing?
It seems you are just defining what observation means which is not answering this question.
What is the purpose of observing in EC? What does it help with?

Written observation is known as the primary source of gaining information about development and interests of the child. There are various ways to carry out written observations within an early childhood setting, with each method having its advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation which is being observed.

There are a number of reasons why early childhood professionals should participate in the task of observation. Observation can have many purposes which allow early childhood professionals to:

• gather information on a child‘s emerging skills
• assess and monitor a child‘s play preferences, social interactions, communication and language, thinking styles, physical abilities and emotional status
• collate the perspectives and views of children
• gather information about each child‘s development
• analyse behaviour to identify triggers, or consequences which are maintaining behaviour
• investigate child‘s behaviour and expressed emotions in order to identify an additional need
• identify and document needs for additional care
• identify the cultural and language background and migration experiences of the child
• gather information about the contexts of children‘s lives.

Through the process of observation, all of the varying aspects of a child‘s development are able to be identified and used to their benefit through the development and implementation of a program which suits their need, preferences and abilities.