I expect that Alfie will be co-operative in tidying up after the activities as I have found out in previous visits that Alfie is very helpful and always willing to do things for friends and family, also the book mentioned above states that children around Alfie’s age enjoy helping adults to do tasks such as tidying up.
I predict that Alfie will enjoy doing this activity as the book above states children of Alfie’s age enjoy simple craft activities, such as playing with dough etc. I expect Alfie to be interested in learning about the environment around him and new words as I have noticed in previous visits that Alfie is very inquisitive and asks lots of questions about what is going on around him. I expect Alfie to want to do things unaided as he is around the age when (children 2-3 years) like to be independent and do things for themselves.
Observations
I visited Alfie’s house around 3:00pm, Alfie was in a very good mood and excited to see me as it had been a while since I last visited him to do an activity. Alfie was excited about creating a valentines card and was interested in the card, glitter, glue etc. that we were going to use during the visit, Alfie kept asking “what’s that?” showing that Alfie is interested in his environment. I observed how Alfie’s intellectual development has improved form earlier visits by asking him questions about colour, shapes etc.
When Alfie was prepared I asked him what colour card he would like to use, Alfie responded by saying “blue”, but later changed his mind and used pink card. I found it difficult to keep Alfie entertained while making the card as he was distracted, wanting to play with his dog “Bess”. I gave Alfie a break from the activity as I thought he was becoming restless and I this would be best, as children of Alfie’s age have a short attention span of around 10 minutes, which the book mentioned above states.
After around 15 minutes Alfie wanted to do the card again, he demonstrated this by pulling on my hand over the table and shouting “card”. I observed Alfie’s fine motor skills and how they have improved from previous visits. Alfie was able to draw using a large coloured pencil; Alfie did this using his preferred hand (his right) and drew various patterns e.g. dots and lines – Alfie held the pencil using his fingers (tripod grasp) not his fist, showing his fine motor skills have improved. Alfie understood what the equipment was used for and was gluing paper to the card without any help from me. I cut out shapes for Alfie to stick onto the card as he didn’t attempt to use the scissors himself. I pointed at different coloured card to assess Alfie’s intellectual skills – Alfie was able name all the colours that I pointed to (green, blue and orange).
Alfie was willing to share things with me during the activity and wasn’t possessive about his toys etc., and would say “you do” when he wanted me to show him how do certain tasks e.g. folding the card. I found it difficult to keep Alfie on task, he wasn’t interested in sticking glitter, crepe paper etc. to the valentines card, he was more intrigued by the different textures of the glue, paper and loved the feeling of them on his hands, I think Alfie enjoyed testing and exploring the environment around him . I helped Alfie with the more delicate parts of the card by pointing to areas and saying “here” where he could stick the crepe paper, Alfie wasn’t eager to be independent and do things for himself which I thought he might be as this behaviour is usually for a child of Alfie’s age. Alfie demands constant attention for the people around him and enjoys being the centre of attention; Alfie didn’t want to be left alone
Alfie was very helpful towards the end of the activity; he was enthusiastic about cleaning up the mess and helped me by picking up the small pieces of crepe paper which we didn’t use on the card and putting them in the bin, Alfie did this using a delicate pincer grasp. Alfie was willing to follow simple instructions such as “pass me the glitter” and took joy in assisting me when tidying up.
Evaluation
Physical
I think that Alfie is achieving and sometimes exceeding the expected physical milestones for his age group. Alfie was able to hold a large pencil in his preferred hand which I was surprised with as I didn’t think he would be able to manage this as it isn’t expected until around three years of age. Alfie displayed good fine motor skills such as a delicate pincer grasp, which is something I knew Alfie would be able to do as I have observed him picking up small objects in previous visits. Alfie didn’t attempt to draw any shapes or patterns during, which was one of the aims set above; I didn’t think Alfie would achieve this as it isn’t expected until three years. I expected that Alfie’s fine motor skills would have improved since the previous visit, which they did as Alfie was able as draw using large pencils.
Intellectual
Alfie was able to name to name all the colours that I pointed to, which I expected he would be able to achieve as I have observed him do this in previous visits and also the book “Child Development An illustrated guide” states children of Alfie’s age should be able to name colours. Alfie wasn’t able to hold a conversation with me, which I didn’t expect he would be able to as he isn’t a very talkative child, Although, I have been told by his mother that he is able to speak in full sentences.
Alfie was able to communicate needs such as thirst and hunger. Alfie enjoyed making choices for himself which I expect as children of 2 -3 years like to be independent and make their own decisions.
Social
Alfie was very helpful and enjoyed “tidying up” after the activity had finished which is usual for two year olds as they like to be helpful towards adults. Alfie reached my expectations because he was co-operative and friendly towards me thought-out the visit, I expected Alfie to behaviour in this way as in all visits I have had with him he has always been willing to take part in activities and is generally always in a good mood. Alfie was able to follow simple instruction well and imitates what other around him do, a skill the book “Child Development An illustrated guide” states is achievable. Alfie was willing to work with others which was one of the aims above, I expected this as he is a sociable, friendly child.
Emotional
Alfie’s concentration span had not really improved since the previous visits which was one of the aims above. I expected this as Alfie is an active child who finds it difficult to sit still and concentrate for long period of time. I think that Alfie is reaching the correct emotional milestones for his age – he is able to express how he feels by the use of language and is able to do things unaided without the help of adults although, Alfie does show defiant behaviour when he is forced to do something he doesn’t want to do. Alfie also understands the emotions of other around him and understands when he is doing something wrong.
Conclusion
My conclusion is that Alfie is reaching the correct milestones for his age. In some instances he is slightly ahead, for example, he is able to draw patterns such as dots and lines and demonstrates advanced social skills. He is approximately 27 months old, yet these milestones are usually associated with infants of 3 years, (ref. Child Development by Valerie Hall and Heather Brennand).
Alfie appeared to enjoy the visit very much. I think this is because Alfie was able to be creative and express himself through art; it is also a way for Alfie to let of steam. Alfie is still very dependant of the Adults around him for constant attention. Alfie enjoys being the centre of attention.
Alfie’s fine motor skills have improved greatly over the course of the visits; he now shows the ability to write using his preferred hand, something which he hasn’t been able to achieve in past visits. Alfie’s achievements during this visit met with almost all my predictions. However, the skills Alfie was not capable of such as concentrating for long period aren’t evident until a child reaches 3 years; therefore I expect Alfie to be able to achieve this during the next visit.