Oaklie Observation Essay

Observation Assignment I observed Oaklie, who is two years old and the youngest of four children belonging to a sister that I visit teach. I had the opportunity to observe Oaklie in nursery on Sunday combined with around ten other children age 18 months to three. Here Oaklie was more of a leader than a follower. I also spent time observing Oaklie in her home with her siblings who are ages eight, six, and four. At home, Oaklie is quite self-reliant and holds her own among her older siblings. I got to see her briefly at Walmart this week with her mom and sister, age 4, where she was in the cart happily playing with a cup. Children’s temperaments are often affected by the circumstance or environment they are in, so it was beneficial to observe Oaklie in three different situations and see that her behavior is consistent. Having mostly been around Oaklie when her mom has been present, I didn’t know if she would be approachable; however she is. I went into nursery during the final hour, so she had already been with other adult caregivers for an hour. She didn’t hesitate to interact with me, whereas some of the others did. In her home she talked to me and
For example Oaklie’s approachability and her high threshold of responsiveness, might mean her parent need to be extra vigilant when strangers are around. Oaklie’s high activity level combined with her persistence means that she might need an extra set of eyes on her at the swimming pool or playground. Likewise, my son’s inapproachability and low threshold of responsiveness explains his anxiety at ward activities. Understanding the temperaments of our children helps us “protect when we must, but permit when we can” (Steinberg, 2004) and to base our parenting less on consistency for the sake of consistency and equality and more on the individual needs and personality of each