It’s “Elementary, My Dear Watson”: The Power of Observing Children
December 2, 2021; By Sara Silva – STARS Coach, Child Care Connections
The famous Sherlock Holmes has held generations captive simply through his astounding powers of observation. By looking closely at the environment and the people in it, he could solve cases that left others thoroughly puzzled and at a loss.
Similarly, families are often left wondering how we know what materials to make available to children and what next steps to take to support children’s growth and development. “Elementary, my dear Watson,” – we observe. By carefully watching children at play, documenting our observations, and reflecting on what the children’s behavior is telling us, we solve the mystery of where a child is in their development and what we need to provide so that they can take their next steps.
Observation is a skill that we can all learn and develop, with practice. Begin by viewing these short videos developed by Child Care Resources:
- Why Observation, 2:44
- How to Observe, 2:34
- Observation: What’s Next?, 2:51
Then get your pen and paper ready to begin practicing. Use that “magnifying lens” to look closely at what a child is doing and reflect on that behavior with peers: what learning is the child showing? What are they trying to accomplish? What can we bring into the environment to support their learning and development? Through observation and reflection, we can follow the clues of a child’s behavior to uncover a wealth of information about the child (their growth, development, and learning) and their needs (in all domains).
If you need help or would like more information on establishing your own practice of observation, give us a call and talk to one of our provider services team members: 406.587.7786
