Observations About Playleader

Observations About Child

Field Notes

Playleader says:"Now we're gonna play the last game. We're gonna change things."

Child smiles. Says "And I gonna change"

We think that she meant that she wanted to change things herself because she was very excited about the objects she saw, especially the bright yellow walkman.

"I'm gonna show you how to change things. We will put on this music." Playleader turns on walkman. "This is playing soft but we can make it louder."

Child reaches for the walkman.

It seems that the child was really attracted to the walkman and thus was distracted by it. Helane's comment: The parent or leader needs to talk whenever it is silent. This is important to always get the attention of the child.

Playleader tries to get child's attention. "Wait a minute. I'm gonna let you use this. See this? This is a volume control. We can make the music louder." Playleader shows child how to use the volume control. "Now you try."

Child uses the volume control to make the music first softer and then louder.

Child was able to see that she could change the volume of the music herself. She first made it softer and then, in order to hear the music, she turned the volume control the other way.

Playleader showed the child a block of wood. "Feel it. Do you feel that it's kind of rough?"

Child feels the block and says "Yeah."

Playleader should have asked the child to touch the block first and then ask her how it felt. Helane's comment: Good observation!

"Now we will use the sand paper on it." Playleader rubs the block with sand paper. "Now feel it."

Child feels the block and says "I want to try it."

Playleader gives everything to the child.

Child rubs the block with sand paper and feels it.

"Did it get smoother?"

Child smiles: "Yeah"

Playleader takes out Kool-Aid. "Do you like Kool-Aid?"

Child smiles: "Yeah"

"We're gonna put some of it in the cup." The play leader puts some powder in the cup. "Now put some on your finger and taste it."

Child tastes the Kool-Aid and frowns.

"How does it taste?"

Child says "Good."

Child frowned when she tasted the Kool-Aid, so she was probably being polite when she said that the powder tasted good. It could also be that the child knew that Kool-Aid tasted good so she just tried to guess a "right" answer.

"Now we're gonna put some water in it." Playleader pours water in the cup.

Child:"Now you're gonna mix it with a spoon?"

Child has probably seen this elsewhere.

"Now taste it and tell me how it tastes."

Child tastes the Kool-Aid. She does not say anything.

"Does it taste different?" Does it taste sweeter?"

Child tastes it again. "Yes."

"Now I will show you how we can make things bigger. See this balloon is small now."

Child feels the balloon. "Can you blow it?"

"Yes. We're gonna make it bigger." Playleader blows the balloon.

Child grabs the balloon. "I want to try to blow it."

Maybe it would be a good idea to have few balloons, so that if the child wants to try it, we could provide the child with a clean balloon."

Playleader takes the block of wood. "Can you remember how it felt when you first touched this wood?"

Yes."

How did it feel?"

"Smooth"

The playleader should have specified: "Do you remember how this block felt before we used sand paper on it?" Helane's comment: Good observation!

The playleader points to a cup of Kool-Aid: "Do you remember how it tasted before we added water to it?"

"Good"

"What about this balloon before we blew it up?"

Child says: "You blow it up."

Child seemed to remember things only after we change them."

"Do you remember how the music sounded before we turned up the volume?"

"Yeah, good. Put on the music loud."

Child was distracted by the radio. She kept asking to listen to the music."

Observations About Playleader

Observations About Child

Field Notes

"Now we're gonna be changing things. We're gonna make this Kool-Aid change."

Child: "I don't like Kool-Aid."

Playleader shows her the Kool-Aid powder. "Can you tell what color it is?"

Child says "Purple."

Since we noticed that we had Kool-Aid with no added sugar, we thought it would be wise to let a child observe a different change, a color change from light purple to pink.

"Now we're gonna add some water to it."

Child claps her hands. "Water! And now mix it."

Child seemed really excited because she knew how Kool-Aid was made.

"Now what color is it?"

"Red!"

"OK. Now let's put on the music." Playleader turns the radio on. "This is a volume control. The music is soft but we could make it louder. Now you try."

Child turns the volume control back and forth a few times.

It seems that the child really liked to change the volume of the music by herself.

Playleader takes out a balloon: "Now look at this balloon. See how it is soft and small."

Child shouts "I know how to do it. Let me try it."

It seems that the child was really eager to do things herself.

"Well, I already had it in my mouth, so why don't you let me try it." Playleader blows up the balloon.

Child does not say anything.

It seems that the child was upset because she did not get a chance to blow up a balloon herself.

Playleader takes out the block of wood. "Now feel this piece of wood. See how it's rough?"

Child feels the wood and she says "I don't like that!"

"Now we're gonna use sand paper on it." Playleader rubs the wood with sand paper. "Feel it now."

Child feels the block but doesn't say anything.

"Does it feel smoother?"

"Yeah, do it again."

The playleader should have asked the child how the wood felt, rather than telling asking her if it felt smoother.

Playleader points at the Kool-Aid. "Do you remember how it was before I added water to it?"

Child shakes her head: "I don't know."

"Can you imagine how the music sounded before we turned it up louder?"

Child takes the wooden block inher hand and says "Block: I hate blocks."

It seems that the child was tired of playing already. She seemed not to make any further effort to concentrate anymore.

"Do you remember how this balloon looked before I blew it up?"

"Big. We have a balloon for my party. It's gonna be my birthday."

We spoke about her birthday a little bit and then she left the room.

Observations About Playleader

Observations About Child

Field Notes