Observing Young Children
- Tina Bruce - Honorary Visiting Professor at University of Roehampton
- Stella Louis
- Georgie McCall
This is a book about the process of finding user-friendly and purposeful ways of observing and planning that will help those who are working with young children in a variety of settings to look with insight at children, providing what they need in order to develop and learn optimally. By examining the historic background of observing and planning, and describing examples of good practice in different group settings, this book will help to monitor a child's progress - what is needed now and to work out what is needed next.
The real life case studies from various settings including day care, nursery school, primary school, private sector and Soweto examine different observation techniques, looking at their strengths, drawbacks and use in everyday practice. Examples from the UK and internationally illustrate the history and importance of observation in a range of contexts, while a glossary clearly explains the key terminology. All the examples given in this book can be used with different National Framework documents worldwide, bearing in mind however the authors' belief that curriculum frameworks must be used as a resource and never as a limiting straitjacket.
Drawing on key theory and research, the book's chapters cover:
- Flexible planning
- Record keeping
- Working with parents
- Using technology.
Full colour photographs, illustrations and useful charts and diagrams make this an accessible and engaging resource that will no doubt be invaluable to any early years practitioner. This book was originally published as Getting to Know You - part of the 0-8 series.
'This is a timely new book, which a wide range of early years practitioners will find accessible. I strongly support its principled focus on working collaboratively with families, the way it values children’s experiences, and its practical suggestions for developing high-quality, manageable systems to record assessments. I look forward to using this book with newly-qualified and more experienced staff.'
The Froebel Trust warmly welcomes the publication of “Observing Young Children”. Admirably clear and eminently practical, the book is under-pinned and suffused with Froebel’s principles and demonstrates their application to the central skill of observation to the benefit of both practitioners and parents.
a little complex for some levels, but a useful supplementary book
Once again Tina Bruce writes a highly accessible text that contextualises the role of observations in everyday practice. The text enables students to understand the complexities of observing professionally in a manner that is suited to learners new to this process and to practitioners aiming to refine their skills
This is a current companion to observing children in the early years. My students have already found this text invaluable in carrying out different observations and the importance of record keeping and planning.
We have now made this book an essential read and have purchased
This is a valuable text book for Foundation Degree in Early Years Students to use in Module 3 The Developing Child. It is easy to read, very informative and has some good case studies, visual aids and strategies that can be used when observing a child.
Excellent resource to support units for the HND course focussing on the value of using a range of observation techniques.
The students made good use of this book during their research.
A very helpful book for early years practitioners who want to step up their assessment practices.
Great to have a text about Observing at this level, very useful to support students starting a foundation degree with no early years background, and for underpinning knowledge to support student research projects
