SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL OBSERVATION ASSIGNMENT
1. READ THE APPROPRIATE CHAPTER OF YOUR TEXT BOOK
Your assignment begins by reading the chapter of your text that relates to the age of the child that
you will observe (e.g. Chapter 6 for an infant or toddler, etc.)
2. HALF-HOUR OBSERVATION OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Your observation begins with a Half-Hour running observation of a child’s activity, focusing on
social-emotional aspects.
2:30 p.m. Lori walks slowly and sleepily out of her bedroom rubbing her eyes and calling, “Mommy! Mommy!
I got up and I need a hug!” Her mother comes running and picks Lori up, stroking her hair as she carries her
into the kitchen. Lori sits down at the table and asks her mother for a drink of apple juice just as the doorbell
rings. “I get it! I get it!” She squeals as she runs to the door. Lori opens the door and finds her Uncle and
five year old cousin standing on the steps.
2:40 p.m. Lori giggles with delight and calls to her cousin, “Jennifer come and see what I got in my bedroom!”
She grabs her hand and literally pulls her into the house dragging her down the hall to her bedroom as she
chatters about her new bedlamp…..
3. SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL OBSERVATION QUESTIONS SHEET
Your observation continues by answering the following questions:
1. How would you describe the child’s temperament? Give reasons for your choice based
on the writings of Thomas, Chess, and Birch
2. How does the child relate to other people? Give examples of interactions with family,
friends, teachers, etc.
3. How does the child express her/his emotions? Give examples.
4. Did you observe the following emotions? If so, give a brief description
Joy
Shyness
Anger
Pride
Guilt
Shame
Sadness
Excitement
Fear
Jealousy
5. Describe the child’s play? Was it solitary? Parallel? Associate? Cooperative? How
do you know?
6. How did the child communicate her/his wants or needs?
7. Did you observe examples of attachment theory? Which type of Ainsworth’s attachment
type did you observe the child-caregiver to have? Describe
8. Did you observe behaviors that indicate gender-identity? Describe
9. How did the child relate to siblings?
10. In what stage is the child according to Erikson? How do you know? Quote the book.