4th Parenting –Observing a Child: Intro and Profile

Good enough parents are more concerned for the child’s experience of childhood than with the child’s future as an adult.

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Before my first child was born, I thought I was ready to be a father. I read books on nursery, checked out parenting websites, and taken lots of advice from experienced parents. On actual day of becoming a new father in Aug 2013, there’s only one word, “panic” blow up my mind. But somehow, I managed to learn by observing a child through photos taking, video shooting and notes writing. In 2016, I was studying Child Psychology in College Allied Education Malaysia, I compiled all my materials into a research assignment entitled “Observing a Child Assignment”. Wow, I realized that there is nothing better that killing two birds with one stone. Observing my own child is not an easy task, but I believe this is the stepping stone of being a “learning father” in this modern society.

Methodology and the Structure of the Assignment

The goal of this assignment is the use of two different theories in interpreting and observing a child’s development. Halmi, J. (2003) said that Operant Conditioning (B.F. Skinner) and Cognitive Development (Jean Piaget) have influenced America’s educational system more than any other psychological theories. For years, Operant Conditioning has informed teachers on how to reward their students for their work as well as how to maintain discipline in the classroom. More recently, Cognitive Development has put more focus on how children’s minds grow and what children are capable of understanding. Vastly different and yet equally insightful, each of these two theories provides a wonderfully clear lens for me can view the child development as a whole.

Child's Demographic Information

Grace is a 3 years old child who was raised in a lower-to-middle class suburban household. She is the only child at home. She identifies with the Christian ethnic category and she speaks both English and Mandarin.

She has not begun her school in kindergartens yet. But she will attend todzone (a playgroup for children aged 2-4 years) in SIBKL, church almost every Sunday. Her warm and caring nature makes her a helpful child in todzone. Her primary language is English that she always speaks at home. She picks up English mostly from her mother. But she will speak Mandarin when she sent over to her babysitter during daytimes in weekdays.

She is a cheerful child and always takes initiative on doing any task. She knows how to express herself in spoken language and body language. She is highly energetic that she loves to play and enjoys going outdoor to playground and shopping centres. She also likes to go to swimming pool with her nephew and parents during weekend. Her favourite TV program is Peppa Pig. She spends a lot of times on make-believe play at home like “Kitchen-play”.

Her daddy is teaching Physical Education and Mandarin as well as an office administrator. Her mother is good in English. She is “Mummy’s princess” and she would spend most of her times with her.

I will update you with Child Development Checklist on my next blog.

dTube- 0 to 12 months developmental milestones
dTube-12 months to 24 months developmental milestones
dTube-24 months to 36 months developmental milestones