Child Development DVDNursery and reception observation activities

Uses of DVD

Applying knowledge Testing knowledge Preparing for observations for coursework Stimulating discussion Starters and plenaries for lessons Giving ideas for task activities for resource task or child

study

Content

Nursery 1-3 years Nursery 3-4 years Reception 4-5 years Children, teachers and care workers carrying out a

range of activities with children Section show development of skills Caring skills and language development can be

observed

Nursery 1-3 years

Range of activities; card game, puzzle, using crayons, lego, group activity, imaginary play, physical play and break time snack

Greater role of care workers seen Social interaction Range of skill development shown Range of types of play and activities

Activities

Children enjoy board games: What benefits do you think they were gaining from this

activity? How does using games before the age of three help

develop children’s ability to communicate? What might parents do to assist children’s

communication skills development?

Activities

Why do you think there were a lot of care workers in this nursery?

How do care workers interact with the children? What are the care workers doing with the children to

help their skills develop?

Complete the table to show activities which help children develop a range of skills

Skill Activity

Physical

Intellectual

Emotional

Social

Language

Play observations

List the play activities you saw under the following headings: Solitary play Role Play Parallel/playing alongside Group play Physical play Imaginary play

Break time

Why is this activity important in children’s development? How many different opportunities were there for care

workers to help the development of the children in this activity?

Complete the following chart

Break time developmentsActivity Skill development area or benefit to child

Following instructions

Sitting still

Holding a cup

Picking up a piece of apple

Learning names of items

Sharing

Listening

Imitation

Concentration

Healthy eating choice

Activities

List activities from this clip that you could use for your child study

3-4 year olds

Range of activities seen; sand, imaginary play, creative activities, solitary, group, parallel, role, social play

Developing language skills Manipulative skills shown Interaction of teachers with children Engaging children

Activities

Complete the table on play activities, for each type of play give an example of an activity seen in the DVD

Type of play Activity

Role play

Imaginary play

Creative play

Solitary play

Parallel Play

Activities

List the range of activities that were helping to develop the children’s fine motor skills

Exploratory play helps children gain a growing awareness of themselves; how was this seen in the DVD?

How did adults intervene sensitively in order to support the children?

Activities

One child didn’t join in, how would you encourage this child to get involved?

Later in the DVD a similar situation happens this time an early years worker engages with the child, what techniques does she use?

What things could act as barriers to children getting involved in play activities?

Activities

How were the children stimulated in the nursery? What skills were being developed in the children? Why do you think the environment is suitable for

children? List the activities you have seen here which you could

use for your child study giving reasons why they would be suitable.

Discussion point

Can an early years setting provide children with stimulating solitary play opportunities without risking them becoming lonely or isolated?

Observations

Occupation Stimulation Distraction Encouragement Communication Choice Disengagement

Give examples of where the following ‘caring techniques’ were used:

Observations

What activities were used to help children develop fine motor skills?

What skills did the care workers use with the children? Occupation Stimulation Distraction Encouragement Communication Choice Disengagement

Reception 4-5 years

PIES can be highlighted and looked for Floor play, sand play, computer use, painting Interaction between children Development of fine motor skills Language development Concentration span

Things to do

List ways in which children are free to make choices How is safety and protection addressed? How is a healthy independence being developed? What kind of physical skills are the children developing? Describe the activities which were helping the children

develop socially

Suggested activities

What was being done to help language development with these children?

Make a list of possible activities you could use to observe the development of the child you are studying

How has the teacher helped develop skills in these children? From watching this video what advice could you give a parent

about occupying a child at home?

Observation task

Communicate meaning? Influence others? Negotiate and make choices? Understand each other?

These children are skilful at understanding each other and showing they understand. Watch their body language and nonverbal skills. What does this tell you about their ability to:

Activities

How have communication skills developed in these children?

What opportunities have the children been given to gain independence?

Watch the DVD and complete the following chart

Development of 4-5 year olds

Activity Physical Intellectual Emotional Social

Floor play

Sand and food activity

Computer

Crayoning

Painting

Construction shapes

Complete the chart to show how development of skills progresses from 1 to 5 years

Age Physical Intellectual Emotional Social Language

1-2 Playing on own or alongside

3-4 Group play or alongside

4-5 Organising play, role play

Complete the chart to show a range of activities to suit the development needs of children from 1-5 years

Age Physical Intellectual Emotional Social Language

1-2 Using large wax crayons –fine motor skills

3-4 Using large paint brush

4-5 Using pencil

Give examples under the following headings of how activities at different ages help develop the following language skills

Language skill 1-2 activity

Board game

3-4 activity

Bus

4-5 activity

Sand play

Other activity

Pronunciation

Understanding of words

Use of words

Ability to express themselves and communicate with others