Berenice Lopez

Human Growth & Development

March 10, 2012
Midterm- Interpretations

This observation took place at The Baby Academy Daycare Center during the afternoon
playtime in the infants classroom. In this observation I had the pleasure to observe a fifteen
month old girl who played in solitary play. I will be interpreting where this child is
developmentally in the main six developmental areas which are Social, Emotional, Language,
Cognitive, Fine and Gross Motor Development. The child I interviewed appeared to be
developing at a right level in the Fine motor developmental area, as she was able to grasp onto
toys, reach for manipulative, bang on mirror as well as she developed sense of self, holding,
pushing, and turning. I believe that the development in fine motor was enhanced by the age
appropriate toys that were present. Some of those toys were rattles and soft blocks as they
helped to develop in her physical fine motor development. Such simple toys help the child to
develop to strengthen the small muscles in her hands and feet. Furthermore, the child also
appeared to be developing in at a right level in the gross motor developmental area. As the child
was able to crawl around the play area, throw item across classroom, balance, and strength
(79&80). As Piaget described that the first period of cognitive development began from birth to
24 months, that being said the child I observed falls within that age (Ch.6 153). Piaget stated that
Infants learned through their senses and motor skills. As well as there being 6 stages of sensory
motor intelligences. I believe that the child I interviewed is developmentally in the cognitive
development (153) t. First the child reflected showing interaction not only with another person,
furthermore with the toys that where present during the observation as she responded when the
toys made noise as well as sucking onto toys and object permanence.

For language (166) I also believe she is developmentally at level. As for language and the age
she is in she is suppose to be babbling, squealing, and growling crying, and laughing, and
listening. For emotional development (180) it is written that In the first two years infants
progress from reactive pain and pleasure to complex patterns of social awareness. Infants
express emotions such as crying, laughing and raging. In the observation the child laughed upon
discovering that toy made music, as well as he developed self awareness as she observed herself
in the mirror. This is what I was able to capture from my observations as where the child is
developmentally.

Reference Paper
Miles Gordon Ann (2008) Beginning and Beyond 8th edition. Wandsworth: Cengage Learning
Stassen Berger Kathleen (2008) The Developing Person through the life span 8th edition. New
York: Worth