Running head: OBSERVATION

Toddler Observation
Elizabeth Shields
Ivy Tech Community College

TODDLER OBSERVATION

Introduction
For my child observation project I observed my friend, Andrea Sherwins little boy
Michael Sherwin. Michael is 21 months and a very active little boy. Michael was right on track
with his physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development. There were a few items that he
was advanced in such as potty training and being able to climb up and walk down the stairs.
Physical Development
For the physical development, Michael was able to accomplish twelve out of the fourteen
items listed. The two items that Michael did not accomplish was riding a tricycle and assembling
a six-piece puzzle. He does not have the correct materials in order to accomplish those tasks.
Michael has been walking for quite a while now. He is able to push himself on a wheeled toy and
feed himself with a spoon. Andrea, Michaels mother, is having him master eating with a spoon
before she lets him eat with a fork. When he pushes himself around on the wheeled toy he is able
to go both forwards and backwards. He loves to stack two to six blocks high and then knock
them down, he thinks it is hilarious. He is able to scribble with a crayon and turn pages in a book
one at a time. According to Robinson (2006), for children in Michaels age group love just the
act of scribbling and making that line on paper and soon after their second birthday is when they
will be more concerned with content. There are a few items, such as climbing up and walking
down the stairs and potty training in which I will be talking about in another paragraph.
Intellectual Development
For the intellectual development, he is able to do nine out of the eleven listed. He solves
problems through trial and error on how to go up the stairs. He goes up and down the stairs in
different ways, to keep balance. He likes to observe adults and then copy their behavior, for
example, one time he observed his aunt doing the downward dog and imitated her. He uses two

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word sentences, such as: yes, please, thank you, and go outside. He is also able to use
three word sentences, such as: I love you. He does respond to yes and no questions, and in
the typical toddler manner the answer to usually no. He is also able to identify body parts by
pointing to them when they are named off, just a few examples include: eyes, nose, ears, head,
mouth and tongue. He is also able to repeat parts of his favorite rhymes and stories. A few
examples of phrases from a favorite story Michael repeats is blob, blob, blob from Pout, Pout
Fish and another example is from the movie Alfalfa he says Darla (although it usually
sounds more like Darda) and die, die. He is able to follow simple instructions (although
sometimes rebels) and he understands prepositions. For example, if Andrea told him that
Dumbo is in the living room, he will go to the living room and find Dumbo. The two things
listed that Michael has not yet done is telling about experiences and matching items that are
alike.
Emotional Development
For the emotional development, Michael has achieved all four of the items listed. He does
show frustration with lack of abilities, for example if he tries to push/pull something that is too
heavy. He does resist cooperating or does the opposite of what is being asked, for example: he
likes to climb on the fire place and if Andrea asks him to get off the fireplace sometimes he will
resist that. He is able to make a decision between two choices, for example choosing between
two books that Andrea has given him the option of reading. He does not have many fears at the
moment. He will try to climb just about anything. Although, he has shown fear of the vacuum but
is not fearful of the vacuum anymore.
Social Development

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For the social development, Michael has achieved all six of the skills listed. He engages
well in parallel and cooperative play, examples include in the church nursery or with his cousins.
For a short period of time, he does well in small group activities. Michael is able to understand
simple rules, for example he understands that he is not allowed to climb the stairs, but if the gate
is down and Andreas back is turned he may try to attempt climbing. He also likes to get in the
trash when no one is watching. He does share willingly, for example when I was there he was
trying to put goldfish in my mouth. He also exhibits some self-help skills, for example he goes
potty by himself sometimes, opens the fridge to grab his drink, and grabs a diaper if he knows it
is nap time.
Abnormalities
There were a few items on the check list that seemed unusual that a twenty-one month
old was able to accomplish. According to Kail (2010), climbing up the stairs and walking down
the stairs does not usually happen until they are two years old. Michael is able to both climb the
stairs and walk down the stairs. The accomplishment that really stood out was the fact that he
was already potty training. Andrea started potty training him in August and he is really excelling
in it. He is rarely in diapers but when he is and he soils his diaper he will grab at the diaper and
pull it off. He is able to use his kiddie toilet when he is taken there or asked if he needs to go.
Sometimes Michael will even go to the toilet by himself when he recognizes that he needs to go.
Although, sometimes he does not make it in time or has trouble getting the diaper/underwear off
in time. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff (2014), this life skill does not usually happen until
two to two and a half years of age.
Independent

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Michael also has an increasing sense of independence. He loves to climb and walk the
stairs, although he always has assistance for safety purposes. He is speaking more each day.
Michaels sense of independence is shining through when he is asked to do something and
responds in a different manner.
What I Learned
This observation was not only fun but it allowed me to better understand what happens at
different stages of development. More specifically it has allowed me to study what a child at
Michaels age should be able to do and some things that are advanced for his age.

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6
References

Kail, R.V. (2010). Children and their development. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson
Education.
Lerner, C. and Parklakian, R. (2014). From baby to big kid: Month 21. Retrieved from
http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/from-baby-to-bigkid/month21.html?
referrer=https://www.google.com/
Sullivan, Dana. Your 20-month-olds language and cognitive development: Making sense with
sentences. Retrieved from http://www.babycenter.com/0_your-20-month-oldslanguageand-cognitive-development-making_1273325.bc
Sullivan, Dana. Your 21-month-olds language and cognitive development: Attention to detail.
Retrieved from http://www.babycenter.com/0_your-21-month-olds-language-andcognitive-development-attent_1273339.bc
Robinson, Holly. (April 2006). Your baby from 19 to 21 months: Curiosity and independence.
Retrieved from
http://www.parents.com/toddlerspreschoolers/development/growth/curiosityindependence/
Katie. (October 17, 2012). Your childs speech and language: 18-24 months. Retrieved from
http://www.playingwithwords365.com/2012/10/your-childs-speech-and-language-18-24months/
Mayo Clinic Staff. (November 15, 2014). Infant and toddler health. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/indepth/pottytraining/art-20045230