Seeing Young Children

Book excerpt: Seeing Young Children is an extensive guide to observing and recording behavior in children from birth through age eight. It begins by addressing the basic meaning of observation and why it is so important. This includes a discussion of the theoretical and practical aspects of observing and recording behavior. Detailed information on development, behavior and functioning in children in this age group enables parents and professionals to make meaningful observation, recordings, and evaluations. A large portion of the book concentrates on in-depth reviews of recording techniques and instruments, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. Finally, the last five chapters offer a wealth of observation exercises readers can immediately put to use. Specific by age group, each of these chapters contains observation objectives, instructions as to procedure, and background information on many functional areas, all aimed at collecting and using quality data to the benefit of children.