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r talking to children
the session beyond giving the following prompts (this includes smiling at the child or making small-talk): 1 Ask the carer to just be with their child while they play, but not to join in. 2 Ask the carer to play with their child. 3 Ask the carer to get the child to tidy away all of the toys 4 Ask the carer to read a story book with their child In total, the observation usually takes 30-40 minutes.
What am I looking for?

children

seems odd or worrying, as well as anything that makes the child happy. The placement of the different items on the islands needs to be the start of a discussion between you and the child.
Warnings

If the carer is acting differently because you are there the child will often show surprise and confusion or be tentative in their responses and behaviour. During the first task, notice how engaged the carer is and their facial expressions. Does the child approach them for interaction? How do they respond? Are they interested in what the child is doing? During the second task, examine how the carer plays with the child. Are they critical of the childs attempts? Do they support them? How often do they make eye contact? How do they communicate? During the third task, look for how the carer imposes boundaries most children will resist tidying away their toys. In the final task, you are looking for how comfortable the child seems to be in close physical proximity to the carer. If they do want to move away, how do they communicate this and how does the carer respond?
Warnings:

What resources do I need?

You will need a large piece of paper (A3 or bigger) and some pens, crayons or pencils. For children unable or unwilling to draw, you can use toys and models instead.
How do I do it?

Try not to over-analyse what you are seeing as there can often be a number of reasons for behaviour. It is best to use this observation to trigger some discussion, either in supervision or with the carer directly.

2 Drawing Three Islands

What is the technique? This is just one drawing technique that can be used to gain an insight into a childs world without having to rely on question and answer interviews (go online to find others). The Islands technique was developed by Kate Iwi, Young Peoples Services Officer at RESPECT UK.
10 November 2011 www.communitycare.co.uk

You or the child should draw two islands near the top of the piece of paper and a third island towards the bottom. Draw a bridge between the first two islands and a gate in the middle of it. If it helps, you can name the islands, ie the first island would be the Island of Always, the second The Island of Sometimes and the third the Island of Far-Away. Explain to the child that this is a game and that they live on the first island. Ask them to draw themselves or use one of the toys to represent them. They can then draw anything else they want to be on this island with them (which could include people, animals, activities, objects). On the second island, ask the child to draw or put anything that they want to see but not all the time. Explain they have the only key to the gate on the bridge, so anything on the second island can only cross when the child lets them. On the third island, ask the child to draw or put anything that they want to be far away from them, or never want to see again. As the child is drawing or putting toys on the islands, make sure you ask them who or what they are and why they have put something on a particular island.
What am I looking for?

You should be careful about interpreting what is drawn or shown too literally. For example, if they draw a picture of violence, this does not necessarily mean they have experienced it. Drawings and modelling are ways for the child to express an emotional state or process something they have seen or experienced. You should avoid questioning where the child places things. For example, you can ask why they have put their mother on the second island but you should not say: Oh, but I would have thought your mummy should be on island one? The child may then start to draw things to try to please you. There may also be immediate reasons why a child has put something on either the second or third islands for example, they may put their pet cat on island two because the cat scratched them earlier in the day.

3 Games
What is the technique?

Anything in the drawing or model that

This technique is a simple board game for two players. It helps develop a trusting relationship with the child because it involves the social worker and the child sharing information. In addition, it gives the child something to focus on while you are.
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