Book Review: Observing and Recording the Behavior of Young Children

 

Now in its Fifth Edition, Observing and Recording the Behavior of Young Children, by Dorothy H. Cohen, Virginia Stern, Nancy Balaban and Nancy Gropper (Teachers College Press, 2008) is a valuable resource for family child care providers. Observation is a key element in a providers training background, a requirement in many cases such as with the Registry, the CDA and NAFCC accreditation. Observing and Recording the Behavior of Young Children gives providers a handbook of information to using appropriate observing and recording techniques as well as how to use this information to make decisions regarding a child’s development and educational plan.

The authors carefully examine each aspect of a child’s day and the opportunities it presents for observation, teaching providers to do more than record what children do, but how, and in what context. “If we could say that understanding a child is like unraveling a mystery, then taking records is the gathering of clues,” they tell us. This information allows providers to make discoveries in regard to why children do what they do.

The book offers hundreds of examples of specific situations of observing a child, such as: during routines, while using materials, their behavior with other children, their behavior during dramatic play, their general play, their relationships with adults, and their cognitive functioning, among others. There are multiple lists of questions for the provider to ask themselves during an observation to help them get the most details. There is also a chapter discussing the use of language as a tool in recording, showing how the use of verbs, adverbs and adjectives can lead to a more accurate account of a child’s behavior.

There is also discussion on a child’s temperament and culture and how it affects their behavior. Other chapter topics include: recording developing language and emergent literacy, observing and recording behavior of infants and toddlers and recording the behavior of children for whom there are special concerns.

Finally, the book shows how to pull all this observation together to find patterns, and create a summary and interpretation to be used when discussing a child’s progress with parents.

Observing and Recording the Behavior of Young Children is a valuable tool for family child care providers looking to enhance their curriculum through individual observation and recording of children’s behavior. Teachers College Press, $21.95, 264 pages, at: www.tcpress.com.

Patricia Dischler is Author of , “From Babysitter To Business Owner: Getting The Most Out Of Your Home Child Care Business” and “Because I Loved You: A Birthmother’s View Of Open Adoption.” For more tips,  read “Kid Biz Newsletter,” an ezine featuring tips, tricks, and information for the child care professional. Subscribe at http://www.patriciadischler.com.

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