CDV02 Child Growth and Development
Infant/Toddler Observation Assignment
Purpose: Identifying various aspects of development while you’re observing an infant/toddler birth to
24 months of age.
What to do:
Step 1: For one hour, observe one (or more) infant/toddler birth to 24 months of age. You may
observe a child you know, an infant(s)/toddler(s) in a family child care program or center-based child
care program. If you choose to visit a program, please call ahead and make arrangements with the
center director, introduce yourself and explain your class assignment. Do NOT just show up and expect
to be able to observe. If you attend a religious center and there is a nursery, you may also observe in
that setting. This is not an exhaustive list of possibilities of where you may be able to observe infant
behavior, but it is a starting place.
Step 2: Focus your observations on the areas of development we’ve discussed. When you observe, you
will only record what you see or hear. Take notes on all areas of development. Be sure that you are
familiar with the names and progression of development in each area (take “cheat sheets” with you). If
you have the opportunity, talk with the child’s family and ask questions regarding sleeping, nutrition, or
specific temperament characteristics.
Step 3: Complete the form that details your observations for each area you choose to address. Use
specific terms from the course (e.g. “The child demonstrated a neat pincer grasp when picking up the
cheerios.”) as you describe what you’ve observed in each area.
Turn in: The completed form:
Introduction
Responses to each of the three prompts in six of the developmental areas listed below.
Conclusion
Checklist of 14 developmental areas discussed in class: Choose 6 to include in your paper. NOTE:
Some areas of development are not appropriate for all ages and these are indicated in the observation
form.
Gross motor development Fine motor development
Sleeping/waking Sensorimotor stage
Object permanence Language development
Attachment Temperament
Emotional responses Separation anxiety
Stranger wariness Tantrums
Self-Awareness Nutrition
Introduction: (Describe the age of Time/Date you observed:10/ 10 /2022 3:30
the child, the environment where
the observation took place, other Age of the child:17 months
adults and children present, what
time you observed): Description of Environment where the observation took place:
We were in the inside of the classroom at Patagonia CDC .They
had some things for them to play with. They had a play kitchen
outside , had little scooters. They called it their outside
classroom.
List other adults and children present: The nineteenth month old
, seventeen month old and 14 month old. Two teachers
(Select ONE) What did you see (or hear) regarding this topic? (do not give
o Gross motor development opinions or conclusions)
o Fine motor development The child was pushing the cart. Was helping the teacher,
o Sleep and wake cycle cart was on wheels. Cart was same size as the child, held
o Sensorimotor stage toys.
o Object Permanence (*not if child is
less than 5 months old)
o Language development
o Attachment What class concepts or terms match what you observed?
o Temperament Pushing fine motor this idea if tertiary circular reactions
o Emotional responses
o Separation anxiety (*not if child is less
than 8 months old)
o Stranger Wariness(*not if child is less
than 8 months old) What do you now know about the child’s development in this
o Tantrums(*not if child is less than 18 area?
months old) It was purposeful, it happened on purpose because the
o Self-Awareness (*not if child is less child wanted to move it one place to the other.
than 14 months old)
o Nutrition
(Select ONE) What did you see (or hear) regarding this topic? (do not give
o Gross motor development opinions or conclusions)
o Fine motor development The child was pushing the cart. While walking
o Sleep and wake cycle
o Sensorimotor stage
o Object Permanence (*not if child is
less than 5 months old) What class concepts or terms match what you observed?
o Language development Gross motor
o Attachment
o Temperament
o Emotional responses
o Separation anxiety (*not if child is less What do you now know about the child’s development in this
than 8 months old)
area?
o Stranger Wariness(*not if child is less
than 8 months old) Gross motor walking it is appropriate for their age. On
o Tantrums(*not if child is less than 18 track. I would expect the child to next be running.
months old)
o Self-Awareness (*not if child is less
than 14 months old)
o Nutrition
(Select ONE) What did you see (or hear) regarding this topic? (do not give
o Gross motor development opinions or conclusions)
o Fine motor development The child was mimicking the word night night or uh
o Sleep and wake cycle oh .The child dropped something
o Sensorimotor stage
o Object Permanence (*not if child is
less than 5 months old)
o Language development
o Attachment
o Temperament What class concepts or terms match what you observed?
o Emotional responses Language Development , babbling
o Separation anxiety (*not if child is less
than 8 months old)
o Stranger Wariness(*not if child is less
than 8 months old)
o Tantrums(*not if child is less than 18 What do you now know about the child’s development in this
months old) area?
o Self-Awareness (*not if child is less Vocalizes during play and in response to something. It
than 14 months old)
was meaningful
o Nutrition
(Select ONE) What did you see (or hear) regarding this topic? (do not give
o Gross motor development opinions or conclusions)
o Fine motor development The one child , went for a hug and the other went also
o Sleep and wake cycle
o Sensorimotor stage
o Object Permanence (*not if child is
less than 5 months old)
o Language development
o Attachment What class concepts or terms match what you observed?
o Temperament Attachment , The child felt secure
o Emotional responses
o Separation anxiety (*not if child is less
than 8 months old)
o Stranger Wariness(*not if child is less
than 8 months old)
o Tantrums(*not if child is less than 18 What do you now know about the child’s development in this
months old) area?
o Self-Awareness (*not if child is less The felt comfortable with their current teacher. And it
than 14 months old)
was a sign for their future
o Nutrition
(Select ONE) What did you see (or hear) regarding this topic? (do not give
o Gross motor development opinions or conclusions)
o Fine motor development The teachers , explained student wariness because one
o Sleep and wake cycle gets anxious
o Sensorimotor stage
o Object Permanence (*not if child is
less than 5 months old)
o Language development
o Attachment What class concepts or terms match what you observed?
o Temperament Stranger wariness , they aren’t comfortable with a new
o Emotional responses person
o Separation anxiety (*not if child is
less than 8 months old)
o Stranger Wariness(*not if child is less
than 8 months old)
o Tantrums(*not if child is less than 18
months old) What do you now know about the child’s development in this
o Self-Awareness (*not if child is less area?
than 14 months old)
It is normal because they don’t know if they are
o Nutrition comfortable aren’t not
(Select ONE) What did you see (or hear) regarding this topic? (do not give
o Gross motor development opinions or conclusions)
o Fine motor development The children were grabbing a box of toys and being
o Sleep and wake cycle warned for safety
o Sensorimotor stage
o Object Permanence (*not if child is
less than 5 months old)
o Language development
o Attachment What class concepts or terms match what you observed?
o Temperament Self awareness , they needed a reminder for physical
o Emotional responses safe
o Separation anxiety (*not if child is
less than 8 months old)
o Stranger Wariness(*not if child is less
than 8 months old)
o Tantrums(*not if child is less than 18
months old) What do you now know about the child’s development in this
o Self-Awareness (*not if child is less area?
than 14 months old)
They are also developing self awareness so where there
o Nutrition body is
Conclusion Describe where is this child in their development.
Three walking and was one was crawling
What was this experience like for you?
it was a lot of fun and got to learn a lot about the
kiddos
What did you learn about infant/toddler development?
Three were fully walking and one was crawling
because the last child is a cold to warm girl.
What can you tell others about infants/toddlers now
you’ve had this experience?
That they all do things at different rates. But it is
appropriate for their age and means on track
