OUTDOOR ADVENTURE (BUG HUNT): (FEMALE 201 4.5 years old: Oct.18, 1996)

Observation of the taped activity. Observations conducted by Tracy Amerman

The leader introduced the activity "outdoor adventure" to 201, a 4 1/2 year old female. He asked her if she wanted to look for bugs. She said she catches butterflies. He asked her if she wanted to get the equipment out or if she wanted him to get it out. She said "you". He told her he would get it out if she could tell him what each thing is used for. As he took out the items, she readily identified their uses: pick up bugs, put your eye on it, catch bugs with it, look through. He asked her if she wanted to look through the binoculars, but she said "no" He asked her where there was a wild place where they could find bugs and she said "the jungle". The leader then took 201's doll and lead her with the net to the "jungle." She asked him what he was goint to pick up bugs with? He asked her if she wanted him to get it and she nodded yes. The leader found the first bug and continued to lead the way. The leader asked her what she wanted to catch and she said "butterflies." He asked her where they should go to catch them, and she said "out"(they had been in the closet.) She caught a "rainbow butterfly" She said it was all colors except black and white. She then caught a pink butterfly. The leader asked her how many legs it had, and she said "two". She told the leader that she wanted to catch bugs not and said they had to go to a "secret place". She lead they way to the closet and caught ants which she said were all black. The leader asked if she wanted to catch spiders and she said yes. She caught a "big, furry, black spider" The leader asked her if she want to catch more and she said yes. They caught more. He again asked her if she wanted to keep catching bugs, but she said "no." The leader reviewed the activity with her. She did not remember the name of the activity, but recalled the types of bugs they caught and the colors of them.

Commentary: 201 was moderately focused and involved with the activity. Even though the leader lead most of the bug collecting, 201 answered most of his questions enthusiastically. She had some interesting responses including "the jungle" and "rainbow is all colors except black and white" The leader has a tendency to question in a negative form(i.e. Do you want to keep looking for bugs or no?) This makes it very easy for a child to say "no". He should also caution about volunteering to complete an action he would like the child to perform.(i.e. "Do you want to take everything out of the box or do you want me to?") Both question forms give the child an easy out.