For Assignment 2, you are required to observe a child aged approximately 2–5 years old, 6–12 years old, or an adolescent in a public location. Observe a child of your own or ask a friend or family member if you can observe his or her child in a public place, such as a playground.
Note
You will not be interacting with the child during this observation; this is strictly an observational assignment.
Ask your friend or family member for permission to observe his or her child and make arrangements for the time and place in advance. It is recommended that you include the details of the arrangements in an email to the parent and ask them to confirm their consent by email. You can include this email as part of your assignment.
For example:
Thank you for agreeing to let me observe your child as part of the second assignment in my SOCW 3551: Human Development course. I will meet and observe your child on Saturday at 2 pm at [location]. I will not be interacting with your child as part of this assignment, and their name and location will not be included in the assignment. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
[your name]
You will then write a 750-word reflection that connects your observations to the theorists in the textbook. Depending on the age range you choose, you will complete this assignment in Unit 5 (Early Childhood and Preschool Years), Unit 6 (Middle Childhood) or Unit 7 (Adolescence).
Development Indicators in Childhood Lifespan Development
- Observe a child aged approximately 2–5 years old, 6–12 years old, or an adolescent in a public location. Do not identify the child’s real name or location.
- Give a general description of the child’s appearance (e.g., height, weight).
- Make note of the observed developmental markers for at least three types of human development; intellectual development (Piaget); social skills development (Erikson), attachment development (Bowlby), moral development (Kohlberg); and socio-cultural development (Vygotsky). Include any unique characteristics.
- Write a 750-word reflection that connects your observations to the theorists in the textbook.
Observation Schedule
| Approximate age of individual: General Description: | |||||
| Observations | Intellectual Development (Piaget) | Social Development (Erikson) | Attachment Development (Bowlby) | Moral Development (Kohlberg) | Socio-cultural Development (Vygotsky) |
| 1. | |||||
| 2. | |||||
| 3. | |||||
| 4. | |||||
| 5. | |||||
| 6. | |||||
| Notes: |
Marking Rubric: Assignment 2 Reflection on Childhood Development
| Use of Observation Schedule Student has fully used and attached the observation schedule to document specific observations of human development including general description of subject and unique observed characteristics. | /4 |
| Identifying Correct Theories Student has matched observations to correct theories from the textbook by matching specific examples of observations and connecting examples to specific stages, phases, and theories of each selected theorist. | /6 |
| Essay Formatting Student has used a title page, double spaced, and indented paragraphs. The work has an obvious introduction, main body, and conclusion. | /3 |
| Readability Student has used academic quality language including APA citations and references to paraphrase and quote any words from the text or another source. | /2 |
