LP2 Observing Play

Observation 1:
Infant: Ella 10 months Ball Play
Ella crawls on the floor toward a ball. She grabs the ball with both hands and gets into a
kneeling position. Ella lifts the ball with both hands and drops it on the floor. As she does this,
she says, "Ah ah." Ella watches the ball roll away. The ball stops rolling and Ella crawls toward
it again. She picks it up with both hands and drops it. The ball rolls across the floor toward
another baby. Ella watches the other baby crawl toward the ball and slap it. Ella continues to sit
and watch the other baby mouth the ball. The baby attempts to push the ball toward Ella, but the
ball goes in a different direction. The baby leaves the ball and crawls toward Ella. Ella reaches
out to touch the baby's head, but the baby turns around and crawls back toward the ball. Ella
crawls around the baby and gets the ball. She crawls back out of the doorway while rolling the
ball into the open area. She continues to push the ball across the floor while crawling. Once she
reaches the rocking see-saw, she leaves the ball and crawls toward it. Ella is done playing with
the ball.
Interpretation:
The stages of play that I observed with Ella were mostly revolved around functional and solitary
play. Ella explored the ball and practiced motor skills while rolling and crawling with it. She
continued exploring how the ball rolls while crawling with it. For the most part Ella's stage of
social play was solitary. She played near another baby, but played independently with the ball.
The adults role in this situation were to be a stage manager by providing the environment and
equipment. In addition the adults role is to observe the child.
Observation 2:
Toddler: Emilia 2 years Baby Play
Emilia is playing in the dramatic play area. She grabs a blanket and spreads it across the picnic
table. She looks as though she is attempting to fold the blanket. She says, "I wanna pay wif da
baby." She places the folded blanket in the playhouse. Emilia notices the teacher is getting her
coat on. She says, "Are you go home?" "Where are u going?" The teacher responds and Emilia
says, "Why?" The teacher doesn't answer. Emilia takes the folded blanket out of the play house
and places it back onto the table. She says, "My baby seeping." She gets a baby and lays it on
the blanket. She wraps the baby in the blanket and says, "My baby seeping." She then puts the
baby on the changing table and then in a basket with a handle. She runs around the room.
Emilia stops and says, "My baby poopy." She places the basket on the table and takes the baby
out. She puts the baby on the changing table and gets another blanket. Emilia swirls the blanket
around the air and gets a pillow. She places the pillow on the floor. While she is doing this,
another child takes her baby from the changing table. When she returns to the house, she notices

her baby is gone. She says, "My baby!" She looks around and notices another child holding it.
She grabs it from his arms and says, "My baby!" Emilia then makes a bed with blankets in the
crib. She puts the baby into the crib and carefully covers her up. Emilia lays on top of the baby
in the crib. The teacher then tells the children we are going to the bathroom. Emilia says, "No!"
She rolls out of the crib and the teacher says, "Time for the bathroom." Emilia says, "No." The
teacher picks Emilia up and starts to tickle her.
Interpretation:
There were many stages of play and development noticed during this observation. Parallel play
was significant. Although children were also playing in the house with dolls, they had little
interaction. However, this play initially started as solitary play. I also believe symbolic
play/dramatic play took place as Emilia used all of the objects in the house as if she was a
mother taking care of her infant. The adults role in this situation were only the stage manager.
The teacher did not participate at all.
Observation 3: Avery 4 years
The teacher called a group of children over to play a game. Avery went and sat down near the
teacher. The teacher had a ball and rolled it to a child and said their name. The child then rolled
the ball to Avery and said her name. Avery rolled the ball to another child and said his name.
This play continued for only a few minutes when one of the children was getting mad that they
weren't picked to have the ball. Avery watched closely as the other child stood up. She then said
the child's name, "Emma." Avery proceeded to roll the ball in her direction. The child then sat
back down. After about 5 minutes, most of the children left the group. Avery stayed and wanted
to play. She continued to roll the ball to the teacher. The teacher eventually had to get up to
help another child. Avery got up and found a riding toy and sat on it.
Interpretation:
Both associative and cooperative play were noticed in this observation. The children gathered to
play together and share the ball. Since they played cooperatively and took turns, I believe a little
bit of cooperative play was involved. The adult role in this situation was the stage manager,
mediator and participant.
Observation 4: Jaycen 8 years
Jaycen is kicking a ball around the gym. He finds a friend across the room and yells, "Nolan."
He then kicks the ball to him. His friend engages in play with Jaycen. They kick the ball back
and forth a few times. After a while Jaycen kicks the ball to his friend and then chases him as he
runs for the ball. Jaycen catches up to his friend and puts his hands on his shoulders in a rough
and tumble sort of way. The friends says, "Ahhhh!" Jacyen finds another ball and kicks it across
the gym. He tells his friend, "Hey there's another ball over there." His friend runs to get it and
kicks it back to Jaycen. This continues for about 5 minutes, kicking the ball back and forth.
When the ball gets kicked in a different direction, Jaycen says, "I got it." He gets the ball and
kicks it back to his friend. When his friend gets the ball he starts to dribble it. Jaycen then yells,
"Kick it!" His friend kicks it back.
Interpretation:

The adult role in this situation was to be the stage manager by providing the equipment. In
addition, the teacher would be a protector to be sure they are playing safely. However, the most
important role in this play was to be an observer. The type of play engaged by Jaycen was
cooperative. Even though there was no particular set of rules for this play, I would consider it to
be games with rules.

Criteria

Student

Instructor

Rating

Rating

Four running record observations of child(ren) at play are

included

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Observations are of children in each of the 4 age ranges

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Observation 1 is complete and objective

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Interpretation 1 of types of play observed is included and

appropriate

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Interpretation 1 of adult roles & strategies is included and

appropriate

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Observation 2 is complete and objective

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Interpretation 2 of types of play observed is included and

appropriate

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Interpretation 2 of adult roles & strategies is included and

appropriate

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Observation 3 is complete and objective

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Interpretation 3 of types of play observed is included and

appropriate

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Interpretation 3 of adult roles & strategies is included and

appropriate

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Observation 4 is complete and objective

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Interpretation 4 of types of play observed is included and

appropriate

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Interpretation 4 of adult roles & strategies is included and

appropriate

3 2 1 0

3 2 1 0

Work is written clearly, with no spelling, grammar or

punctuation errors

Yes 2 1

Yes 2 1

No 0
Self assessment is completed and included with the
assignment

Yes 2 1

Assignment is submitted on time

Yes 1 No 0

More points may be deducted for very late work

Total points ___47____/47

No 0

No 0
Yes 2 1
No 0
Yes 1 No 0

Observation 3: Kate 4 years Indoor Gym Play

Kate runs toward two girls in the gym. The girls are playing with a stick horse. Kate asks, "Can
I do it?" The girl with the stick horse says, "Not yet." Kate chases the girl as she gallops with
the horse. When the girl stops, Kate reaches out her hand and pretends to give the horse
something. She says, "Here are some carrots." Kate watches as the other girl makes the stick
horse pretend to eat the carrots. The girl then begins to gallop away. Kate chases the girl around
the gym. The girl stops and puts the stick horse down and walks away. Kate picks up the horse
and straddles it. She pets its head and says, "Come on girl." Kate begins to run around the gym
riding the stick horse. She stops and takes a rest. She then walks over to the corner of the room
where two other girls are playing something. Kate watches and then puts the horse down on the
ground. Kate observes the girls begins pretending she is a dog. She is done playing with the
horse.
Interpretation 3: