Child Observation and Analysis: Learning Experience and Development

This assignment presents a detailed child observation report focusing on a child named Fanuel Raji. The report begins with an observation of Fanuel's activities, including playing the piano, painting, and demonstrating gross motor skills. It then analyzes his emotional and social development, interactions with adults and peers, and identifies areas for improvement. The second part of the assignment outlines a planned learning experience involving aromatic playdough, designed to foster fine and gross motor skills, as well as sensory development. The report details the learning focus, experience, resources, health and safety considerations, and interaction strategies. The author reflects on the planning process, the importance of observation, and the educator's role in promoting child development within the Early Years Learning Framework.

Observation and analysis
Focus Child’s/Children’s Name/s: Fanuel Raji
Date: 15/10/2017
What is the context? (Who is present, what are they doing, what happened prior to this etc. NOT MORE THAN 2-3
SENTENCES)
I arrived at Fanuel’s home and found him playing his piano; his caretaker was guiding him in
mastering of the simple rhythms. The parents were also present and were in the sitting room
watching. Prior to this I had obtained the parents’ consent and scheduled the observation date
What did the child/children do? (Write a detailed observation, and/or include a photograph and/or a sample -e.g.
writing or drawing - and how the child created the sample or what they were doing in the photograph).
ONE OR TWO SHORT PARAGRAHS ONLY
I observed Fanuel paint one of the sketches in his drawing book alongside a son of their
family friend that had visited while I was there. Fanuel took his friend and started showing
him his nice paintings and invited him to paint the remaining part of the sketch. Fanuel really
controlled the movement of his hands while drawing. He was also able to stand on one foot
for about 15 seconds and was alternating his feet while coming downstairs as well as
climbing up. While playing, he was very accurate while throwing the ball. Here also included
the skills to care for self. For Fanuel, he was able to wash himself less the back regions and
dressing up but needed help in fastening his buttons especially the small ones. He could
comfortably take his meal on his own and after that brush his teeth. While performing these
duties, I could see how he enjoyed doing them on his own.
What learning/ development/dispositions/relationships/interactions did I observe? How does what
is happening in this observation link to the Learning Outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework?
ONE to ONE AND A HALF , SHORT PARAGRAPH
With the help of the development checklist, I noted down the activities attempted and those
mastered, with the aim of ascertaining the gross motor skills. To observe and learn the
emotional and social development of Fanuel, I observed his tone of voice, facial expressions,
and posture of the body. The first part I observed was how the child expressed his emotions,
for instance when the caretaker wanted him to settle down and eat; he said that he wasn’t
hungry and when the caretaker insisted, he frowned his face. Such a behavior showed that
when his way is not obeyed, he becomes remorseful very first. Secondly, I observed Fanuel’s
behavior with adults, other children, and visitors. Fanuel was comfortable associating with
adults as long as there was the presence of an adult he is used to. He was also friendly to

other children older than him more so boys, for instance, a family friend came with their son
and he gladly greeted him and started showing him his piano and paintings. This indicated
that the child has self-esteem. The positive reaction of the Fanuel to the parents of the child
and the child himself shows that Fanuel was cooperative and respectful. I also observed
Fanuel while playing with the child of the family friend. I noticed that the most influential
trait of the focus child was weak persistence, where he quickly gave up when he tried to
arrange the stair patterns and was not working out. He is also egocentric because every time
he wanted to lead the friend and could even grab the models to arrange them but when his
friend threatened of withdrawing from the game, Fanuel could give up his position meaning
he was also empathetic.
What can I do to extend the child’s learning or development and/or to promote positive
dispositions and/or build positive relationships and promote interactions?
3-5 SENTENCES
- Organize trips for Fanuel to new places like parks, friends, and relatives so that he can
continue to build the confidence.
- Encourage him to never give up easily by always supporting him in whatever activities he
engages in.
-Foster the drawing and music skills by providing additional assignments and follow-up for
the same. Advice his parents to take him to music classes on weekends.
Planned learning experience
Focus Child’s/Other Children’s Name/s: Fanuel Raji
Date: 15/10/2017
What is the learning focus? (2-3 Sentences)
(be specific about the learning and/or development and/or dispositions and/or relationships and interactions that are the focus, and link
to the learning outcomes in the Early Years Learning Framework)

Activity of Aromatic Play dough. The objective is to foster the growth and development of
the fine motor and gross motor skills. The children will also engage their taste, touch and
smell senses
What is the experience? Give Details –a Short Paragraph
I will Begin by asking the class who likes cooking and what, Then ask them to do wild guess
on what we may cook that day Then tell them what the play will be all about and inquire how
many would like to participate-encourage them to participate. I will then Divide them into
groups based on interest, those less interested with most interested and illustrate the
procedure as they undertake each step.
Why am I planning this experience? (2-3 Sentences for all sections from this point)
(link to observations and/or family information and/or evaluation of previous experience)
The idea originated from Fatuma on 10/10/17 when she came with a cooking magazine of her
mum. She likes cooking even while at home and wanted to share her joyous moments with
the friends
What resources do I need?
Play dough, floor shakers, rolling pins, colored sand, Rosemary oil, Paint (powdered ) of
different colors to color dough
What do I need to do to ensure that this experience meets health and safety requirements?
To ensure that the materials of the experiment are not poisonous and I need to observe the
children as they undertake it
When is the best time, place and grouping for this experience?
Outside classroom on a wide flat table under a shade during good weather. In case weather is
unfavourable, set up can be in Craft area.
How will I interact with the child/children to scaffold their learning?

I will engage the children by asking them questions like whether they know how to cook and
which their favourite meal is. Then challenge them to show me using the coloured dough and
other materials in the experiment
What will I do next to follow on from this experience to support the child’s/children’s
learning/development/dispositions/relationship?
(discuss learning focus, strategies, experience, grouping and/or resources)
I will first identify whether there is any improvement in the development of both the gross
and fine motor. If the learning focus was accomplished I will plan for a more comprehensive
experience and in case there were failures I will correct them in the next planned experience
What have I learnt from this experience?
(reflect on planning, scaffolding, health and safety, relationships, meaningful curriculum, continuity of learning etc - link to the
pedagogies and practices and the educator’s role in the Early Years Learning Framework, and/or theory and literature)
I have learnt that setting up of a planning experience requires a lot of research and should be
objective. Aspects like the health and safety of the experiment are crucial while planning as
this will also depend on the age of the children to participate in it. I have also learnt that one
of the best ways to monitor and develop the children development is through observation and
involvement in teaching activities