Chapter 3
Using Checklists to Look at Physical
Development
“Because some children have reached a
certain developmental level does not mean that others
should be there too. They have other strengths.”
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CHECKLISTS
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Predetermined list of criteria
Answers the question “Yes” or “No”
Closed method
Records attainment of milestones of
development
• Gives indicators of the sequence of
development
• Shows progress over time
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Uses of the Checklist
Advantages
• Time and labor efficient
• Covers many areas of
development
• Individual
documentation of each
child
• Indicators of
development and
progress or lags that
may be of concern
Disadvantages
• Loses the details of the
event
• May be biased or
incorrectly rated by the
observer
• May not have clearly
observable criteria
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What to Do with It
• File in each child’s portfolio/folder
• Use it to plan curriculum in areas not yet
attained
• Use it to look further at significant
development lags
• Compare to previous recording to see
progress over time
• Share with child and family
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TOPICS IN OBSERVATION
Your Frame of Reference
The Frame
Smudges
• Childhood
• Education/Training
• Past experience with
children
• Own learning styles
• Values
• Biases for or
against the child or the
family
• Personal factors that
affect observation
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LOOKING AT GROWTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
• GROWTH:
– Changes that can be measured in numbers
• DEVELOPMENT:
– Changes that are qualitative, refined in a
predictable sequence
• AFFECTED BY:
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–
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Genetics
Prenatal care
Illnesses and accidents
Environmental factors
Age, maturation
Economics
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Physical Growth & Development
• Stages
– Predictable sequence, individual timetable
• Importance
– Health, cognition, social emotional development,
play
• Observing
–
–
–
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Safety
Environment
In nature
Curriculum planning
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Interrelated Factors in
Physical Growth and Development
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Observing the Physical Development
of Infants and Toddlers
• Critical for health and safety
– Physical changes as indicators of all
development
– Before language, it is through close
observation that the caregiver is informed of
the child’s health and safety
• New locomotor skills bring opportunities for
exploration and learning but also expose
the child to new dangers
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HELPING ALL CHILDREN WITH
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
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•
•
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Physical Development and Culture
Boys and Girls
Children with Special Needs
Helping Professionals
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Standard Related to Physical
Development
• ACTIVE START: A Statement of Physical
Activity Guidelines for Children Birth to
Five. Look at Figure 3−11 in the text.
• Position: All children birth to age five
should engage in daily physical activity
that promotes health-related fitness and
movement skills.
©2014 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.