Application: Eye on Development, Part 1

Week 3: Observing Children 3 to 5 Years Old

This week, you are continuing to work on Part 1 of the Application Assignment for this course. The video segment you will view features children who range in age from 3 to 5 years. Keep in mind that Part 2, your assignment for Week 5, will involve learning more about these children through the expertise of the center director and the educational video host.

To complete this assignment:

Plan: Consider what you have learned about the development of children 3 to 5 years old. Click on the link below to download, print out, and review the document you will use to record your observations:

Week 3: Video Observation Guide

Observe: Watch the video segment and look for at least two examples of development in each of the following domains: physical, cognitive/language, and social-emotional development among the children on screen. Record your description of each on the Video Observation Guide. Use the information in your course text to help you recognize evidence of development, such as developing fine- and gross-motor skills; emerging knowledge of skills that support reading and writing; and interactions between and among children that demonstrate social and emotional development. Some guidelines:

• Watch the video as many times as you need. Take notes on what you observe.
• Use what you see and hear as evidence of physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Be mindful to only use the evidence you see rather than make any assumptions about a child. Factors you are not aware of, such as a child feeling tired or hungry, can influence the child’s mood and behavior.
• Remember that despite similarities shared by children of various ages, each child is different and goes through the stages of development in his or her own way. Keep that uniqueness in mind as you observe each child in the video.
• Enjoy the segment. Use what you’ve learned this week to try to imagine the world through these preschoolers’ eyes.

Reflect: Reflect on your observations by responding to the following:

• Describe the examples you observed that demonstrated 1) physical development, 2) cognitive/language development, and 3) social-emotional development.
• Describe at least one example of how development in domains overlaps (e.g., children cooperating in a learning experience, thus promoting social and cognitive development). Note: If you don’t observe any examples of this, describe an example appropriate to this age group.
• Describe differences between 3- to 5-year-old development and infant and toddler development in each of the domains: physical, cognitive/language, and social-emotional.
• Explain at least one example of how your perception of development has changed or grown based on what you have learned this week and/or the video segment you viewed.

Submit: Write and submit a summary of your reflection. Cite specific examples from your observations and, if applicable, references to the Required Resources to support your thinking and ideas.

Assignment length: 1–2 pages

Submit this assignment by Day 7 of this week.

You have completed Week 3. Please proceed to Week 4.