Observation Of An Infant Toddler

Observation 1 of An Infant, Toddler, or a Two-Year-Old’s
Physical and Social/Emotional Development
I observed a 30 month-old child whose name is Austin and his birthdate is 3/3/2013. I observed Austin at his home on September 12, 2015, from 12:15-1:30 p.m. The child wore sweat pants and a yellow shirt. He has brown hair, brown eyes, and appears to be Caucasian. His weight seems to be average compared to the other children. His height seems to be short compared to the other children. I used the running record type of observation.

¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Observations/Data Interpretations/Analyses
1. Austin woke up from his nap. His mom carried him down the stairs and put him on the couch.

Austin looked over at me, frowned, and reached for his mom. He said, “I’m tired.” He then started to cry and reached for his mom.
2. Austin cried out to dad, “Dad do it.” He then handed his dad the toy nunchuck. His dad started to swing the nunchuck around, and Austin smiled.
3. Austin grasped the toy nunchuck in his right hand, and he swung his right arm in a circular motion. He did this while standing.
4. While Austin was seated on the couch, he laid his head to his left with his right hand under his head. His head rested on a pillow. Austin closed his eyes and started to make snoring sounds.
5. Austin held a baseball bat in his right hand, while standing in front of his dad. His dad tossed a ball towards Austin while his mom and grandma watched. He swung the bat toward the left, he missed twice, then hit the ball the third time. He dropped the baseball bat and ran around the house, while his mom and grandma yelled, “Go Austin!”
6. Austin hit another ball with the baseball bat. His mom caught the ball, she yelled, “Out!” Austin then yelled, “Out!”

7. Austin held the baseball in his left hand, and the baseball bat in his right hand. Austin threw the ball into the air with his left hand and swung the bat with his right hand. He hit the ball.
8. Austin’s mom looked at him and said, “I need to change you.” He replied, “Okay.” Hey laid down on his back in front of his mom. His mom took off his diaper and Austin said, “I go in potty.” His mom said, “Okay.” They walked to the bathroom together. Austin sat on the toddler toilet and said, “No pee pee.” He got off the toilet and let his mom put a diaper on him.
9. Austin’s dad held the baseball in his hand, Austin said, “I want to hit it.” He yelled louder, “I want to hit it.” He reached for the ball with both hands. He stopped when his dad handed him the ball.
10. Austin moved towards his grandma and mom. His arms extended outward with his fingers spread apart like a claw. He stomped his left foot, then his right and yelled, “Rawr!”
11. Austin hit his dad with the nunchuck. His mom yelled, “No! I said stop hitting people.” Austin immediately laid on the floor, face first, and started to cry. He rubbed his eyes, then sat up and yelled, “I want daddy.”
12. Austin clutched his shoes in both hands and ran to his mom. He said, “I want to go outside.” He extended his arms towards his mom and handed her his shoes.
13. Austin opened the door from outside, and ran to his dad. He said, “Help me with balloons.” His dad replied, “Ask mommy.” Austin ran back outside towards his mom.
14. Austin’s mom was blowing up an inflatable pool. Austin went up to the pool and grasped the side of the pool. He started to blow into the side of the pool.

15. Austin pointed to the pool and said, “Blowing.” Then he pointed at his mom blowing up the pool and said, “Wet, yuck.”
16. Austin’s mom started using the hose to the pool. Austin said, “I want to do it, I want to do it.” His mom said, “No.” He yelled, “I do it.” Then his grasped towards the hose.
17. Austin’s mom put swimming clothes on him. Austin ran to the back door and yelled, “I want to go in the pool.” He opened the door with both hands and walked over to the pool.
18. Austin’s mom grabbed the water balloons. Austin grabbed a water balloon with both hands and put the balloon up to his mouth and started to blow into the balloon. While his mom was filling up a water balloon she said, “What are you doing.” Austin replied, “I put water in.” He then put the balloon into the water bucket and stir the water around.
19. Austin threw a water balloon overhand with his right hand towards his dad. His dad grabbed the balloon. Austin said, “I want to pop it.” He reached for the balloon his dad was holding.
20. Austin started to cry. He sat in his chair. He said to his dad, “I hurt.” He grabbed his foot and pointed to the bottom of his foot. His dad said, “Did you hurt your foot? Is the ground hot?” Austin replied, “Ya.” Austin stood up and started to walk on his tiptoes.
1. Social Development. Austin Expresses concern when he sees a new person. He is comforted by his mom. “Actively shows affection for familiar person.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 36)
2. Emotional development. Austin expressed that he wanted his dad to swing the toy. “Asserts own needs and wants.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 38)
3. Physical Development. Austin displayed Gross motor skill by swinging his arm, and fine motor skills by grasping the toy.
4. Social Development. Austin was using pretend play, he was pretending to sleep. “Plays pretend using sounds and words.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 34)
5. Social Development. Austin enjoyed playing in a group setting with his mom and grandma cheering for him. “Enjoys small group activities.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p.31)
6. Social Development: Austin Imitates his mom while watching a baseball game. “Imitation… which is learning through observing.” (Santrock, 2013, p. 28)
7. Physical Development. Austin displayed fine motor skill of grasping the ball and large motor skill of swing the bat.
8.

Emotional Development. Austin displayed increasing independence when he indicated to him mom that he needed to go the bathroom. “Achieve some independence with routine tasks such as dressing self, using the bathroom, and cleaning up.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p.38)
9. Emotional development. Austin let his dad know that he wanted to hit the ball. “Asserts own needs and wants.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 38)
10. Social Development. Austin is pretending to be a dinosaur to his mom and Grandma. “Plays pretend using sounds and words.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 34)
11. Emotional development. Austin showed that his was sad by crying on the floor and asking for his dad. “Displays feelings mostly through behavior.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 36)
12. Emotional Development. Austin expresses a want to go outside. “Asserts own needs and wants.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 38)
13. Emotional Development. Austin expressed to his dad that he wanted help. “Asserts own needs and wants.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 38)
14. Social Development. Austin imitated his mom blowing up the pool. “Imitation… which is learning through observing.” (Santrock, 2013, p. 28)
15. Emotional development. Austin let his mom know how he was feeling and how he view the

pool.
16. Emotional development. Austin let his mom know that he wanted to fill up the pool with the hose. “Asserts own needs and wants.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p.38)
17. Emotional development. Austin told his mom that he wanted to go outside. “Asserts own needs and wants.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p.38)
18. Social Development. Austin was watching what his mom was doing and copied her. He tried to fill the balloon with water. “Imitation… which is learning through observing.” (Santrock, 2013, p. 28)
19. Physical development. Austin displayed fine motor skill from grasping the balloon. He displayed large motor skills from throwing the balloon overhand.
20. A. Emotional development. Austin explained how he was feeling and how he was hurt through crying and pointing at his foot.
21. B. Physical development. Austin displayed fine motor skills by tiptoeing.

Summary of Analyses
Overall, Austin appeared to be developing typically for a 30 month old. He displayed physical development through fine and gross motor skills. Fine motor skills he performed were grasping the nunchuck, water balloon, baseball, and bat. The gross motor skills he performed were swinging his arm in a circle, swinging a bat, and tiptoeing.
For emotional development, Austin exhibited typical development. He easily expressed his wants and needs through telling his parents what he wanted. He asked for different things such as his toys, a ball, and to go outside. Overall he “Asserts own needs and wants” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p.38). He also “Displays feelings mostly through behavior” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 36). He displayed this when he expressed that he was sad by crying and reaching for his dad.
Lastly, for social development Austin displayed that he was developing typically. He imitated his mom multiple times. He displayed “Imitation… which is learning through observing.” (Santrock, 2013, p. 28). He also “Plays pretend using sounds and words.” (Gronlund & Engel, 2001, p. 34). This was shown when Austin pretended to be a dinosaur.

Conclusions and What I Learned
Overall, Austin showed that he is developing typically in all areas of development including physical, emotional, and social development. It was a great learning experience to see Austin develop in these different areas. I found it very fun to watch Austin play baseball and with his inflatable pool.

References
Gronlund, G., & Engel, B. (2001). Focused portfolios: A complete assessment for the young child. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.
Santrock, J. (2013). Children. New York, NY: Magraw-Hill.