CARNIVAL (FEMALE 202 4 years old: April 18, 1997)

Observation of the taped activity. Observations conducted by Tracy Amerman

Two female leaders welcomed 202, approximately 4 year old female to the "Carnival." The ticket person told 202 that she had to pay and stamped her hand. The primary leader asked 202 where she wanted to go, and she pointed and said, "over here" The leader asked her to "horseshoes?" and 202 said "yes." The second leader was in charge of the game. 202 said she knew how to play. The two leaders cheered her on as she got 3 ringer. She then picked a prize out of the box. The leader asked her where she wanted to go next: "rollercoaster, ferris wheel, facepainting?" 202 said "facepainting" The facepainted asked her what she wanted painted and 202 said "Esmeralda" The leader asked her if she wanted a heart instead and 202 said, "yes, heart" She siad she wanted one on each cheek. She smiled and held still while her face was painted and her picture was taken. The leader asked 202 if she wanted to look at it and 202 went to the mirror to look. The leader asked 202 if she wanted to paint her next and 202 painted a heart on her cheek. Leader asked where she wanted to go next, "darts?" 202 said, "yeah." She gave her ticket for the darts and played the game. The two leaders cheered her on. The leader asked her what she wanted to do next, "the ferris wheel?" and 202 said, "Ferris wheel." Sitting in two chairs side by side the leader pretended to close the ride door and told 202 as they were going up and down. 202 teased the leader by standing up and pretending to rock the ride. After they left the ride, 202 said she wanted to do another game. She played horeshoes and got another prize. The leader asked 202 if she wanted to go home and she said "no." 202 went back to the darts and played. 202 then went back to the facepainting and asked if she could paint herself. She painted her own arm and hand. The leader also helped paint 202's arm and hand. 202 went back to horseshoes. She started to play, but said, "whoops I forgot to give you my ticket." She picked another prize and the leader told her she could play only one more game. She played horseshoes again and won another prize. The leader took out paper and tape recorder for 202 to tell what she did at the carnival. 202 said she wanted to color something she did at the carnival, but started drawing something else. When the leader asked her to draw about the carnival 202 said she didn't want to. 202 wanted to use the tape recorder and hear herself. The leader asked her to tell what she did that day. She said she played horseshoes, had her face painted and went on the ferris wheel. The leader let her listen to the tape when they were done. The activity lasted 30 minutes.

Commentary: The initial enthusiasm of the leaders drew 202 immediately into the activity; however, the enthusiasm didn't seem to last. It was interesting that 202 was more involved with the activity as it went on than the leaders, as demonstrated by her reminding them to take her ticket. The primary leader helped make the activity a relaxed one, although the lack of clear direction gave the child the opportunity to do whatever she wanted. The leader could have used more guiding questions to elicit more on-taskresponses and actions.