Childcare - Observations

E6- Describe the developmental milestones that have been observed:

The first part of my tick list was several gross motor skill milestones that a 2 ½ yr old should be able to do, and S.G was able to:

• Stand on tiptoes when shown, however S.G did this before I even demonstrated how to stand on tiptoes
• Jump with both feet together, S.G could also jump backwards & forwards with both feet together

(I wasn’t able to observe S.G ‘Kicking a large ball but gently and lopsidedly’ because we were indoors and weren’t allowed to kick balls)

The second part of the tick list was several gross motor skill milestones that a 3 yr old child should be able to do, and S.G was able to:

• Stand & walk on tiptoe, S.G was very confident whilst doing this.
• Stand on one foot
• Throw a ball overhand and catch with arms out-stretched, whilst catching the ball S.G didn’t always have her arms outstretched and was able to catch the ball still.

( I wasn’t able to observe S.G ‘jump from a low step, climb stairs with 1 foot on each step’ because there wasn’t any steps in the building, also I couldn’t observe S.G ‘use whole body to kick ball with force’ as wasn’t allowed to kick balls indoors.)

The last part of the tick list was several gross motor skill milestones that a 4 yr old should be able to do, and S.G was able to:

• Walk along a line, however instead of a line it was a beam laid on the floor, and S.G’s first attempt she fell off towards the end however on the 2nd go she completed it
• Stand, walk and run on tiptoe
• Catch, kick, throw, and bounce a ball, however wasn’t allowed to kick the ball indoors, also S.G could bounce the ball accurate so that I could catch it.
• Bend at waist to pick up objects from the floor

E7- Link the developmental milestones to the age of the child observed:

S.G is 3years and 11months old; nearing 4 years old so therefore would be expected to complete the gross motor skill milestones of a 2 ½ year old, 3 year old and parts of the 4 year old. S.G was able to do all tasks in the tick list except for being able to catch a ball without stretching out arms however S.G did catch the ball without doing this a few times, but only when asked.

E8 - Make recommendations of appropriate ways to meet the developmental need of the child:

‘http://www.viva.org/?page_id=142’

Develop gross motor skills

• Walk up and down steps
• Run with increasing control over direction and speed
• Jump over or from objects without falling
• Use large muscles for balance
• Catch objects; (e.g., ball, bean bag)
• Throw object in intended direction
• Ride and steer a tricycle or other wheeled equipment
• Climb up or down equipment without falling
• Independently use swings, including pumping
• Hop on both feet and one foot
• Jump over objects of various heights and widths
• Balance on one foot or walk across balance beam

E9- Reflect on your own understanding of children’s development as a result of the observation:

As I observed S.G other children took part, and not all of the other children could do various things from the tick list, therefore it has become obvious that children develop at different rates, or some children are better at other things than others.

I think that the use of development milestones is useful and gives teachers and parents an understanding of what they should expect from the child, and if the child cannot perform some gross motor skills, then the parent/teacher can then help the child to improve.

E11: include reference and bibliography:

Carolyn Meggitt, Jessica Stevens, Tina Bruce. (2000)

“An introduction to child care & education”

Hodder & Stoughton

Printed in Italy for ‘Hodder & Stoughton’

http://www.viva.org/?page_id=142’