Observational report of the of two year old infant

Observational report of the of two year old infant Abstract This is the research report of the eight hour observation of two year old H.M. Supun Jayasinha which was done as an assignment for PSY 303 (Developmental Psychology). The main objective of this small observational research is to get a knowledge how a two year old infant behaves and how he or she interacts with the environment. This short research includes the play, social interaction of the infant, movements (crawling, walking etc.), nature and the ways that the infant communicate with the world, eating habits and the behavior of the caregivers. Introduction Each and every living being in this universe is developing or growing in each and every moment. Human beings, animals and even plants have a developmental process and this development is an ongoing process. As human beings, we have a gradual and systematic development. Development refers to systematic continuities and changes in the individual that occur between conception and death (Shaffer, 2002). Development psychologists describe these changes as “systematic” because those changes are orderly patterned and relatively enduring; so temporary mood swings and other transitory changes in human appearances, thoughts and behaviors are excluded. The developmental psychologists are also interested in continuities in development which means the ways human beings remain the same or continue to reflect the past. As human development is very important, there is a separate discipline called “Developmental Psychology” to identify and explain the continuities and changes that individuals display over time (Parke and Locke, 1999). Various theoretical perspectives have been emerged regarding human development. Among those perspectives learning perspective, cognitive developmental perspective, system theory perspective, ethological perspective, life span perspective are very important. Among these perspectives, there are various theories. The Piagetian theory, Vygostky’s social cultural theory, psychodynamic theory of Sigmund Freud, Erikson’s theory, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, are very important. These perspectives and theories describe human development from different angles. Observing childhood is very important to understand human development. As John Milton says in his poem “Paradise Lost” “childhood shows the man as morning shows the day” ( Diane, E, Papalia & Wendkos, 1978). It means either the events of childhood have little or no real impact on one’s adult life or events of childhood play a meaningful role forecasting future. However, I did this small observational research to get a background knowledge about the childhood. Observation and Findings The boy I selected is H.M. Supun Jayasinha and his mother is a relative of one of my best friends. He lives in Kandy. He is two years old. His father is a government officer while mother is a house wife. His elder brother is nine years old. Before observing the child I got the consent of the parents and I informed them that I would nearly stay four to ten hours with him. On the appointed day, I went to the home of Supun at 7.30 am. When I go there his mother was feeding him. Though he can eat himself, as their parents say, he prefers to take food from the hand of the mother. As his parent say he likes more to eat rice with Dahl. In the same way, he eats bred, bans, vegetable roties, cutlets, patties etc. After he took the breakfast, I gave him some sweets and two chocolates which I took to see him. When I gave them to him, his mother took them saying that those can be eaten later as he just took the breakfast. But he thoroughly said that he wants the chocolate and ultimately his mother had to give it to him. Actually, first he took both the chocolates and tried to eat the both. He did not want to give one of them to his elder brother. But, when his mother told him to give one chocolate to the elder brother he measured what is the larger one (those two were in same size and same kind) and gave one to his elder brother. Very important characteristic of Supun that I noticed is that Supun can change his feelings and emotions very quickly. He was very angry when his mother did not give him the chocolate. But at the same time, a cat (of their house) came near to him. He very lovingly took it and kissed it without any sign of anger. He is a very rigid and inflexible boy. He wants what he wants somehow. If anything is said by him, the others should follow it. For instance, when I was with him I took one of his toy cars and put it on another side. He with his language told me to put it at the previous place. When I did not do it, he angrily took it and kept it at the previous place. He does not like others take his toys. If any toy is taken by someone, he carefully examines that person what that person does to that toy. Actually, as I am a stranger, first he did not like to talk with me. Though he agreed later, he was very shy to talk with me. When I became friendly with him he worked with me very happily. He says that everything belongs to him. If I take his toy saying it is mine, he takes it back saying that it is his. When I said that that I would take one of that beautiful rose plants, he said that those plants belong to him. In the same way, when I said that I would take his mother when I go, he with an angry and upset mood said not to take her. When considering the body and physical activities of Supun, his body is flexible. He can throw balls, lift some heavy books, toys, pull and push a chair etc. When he plays with his elder brother he runs with his brother. He carries little things as coconut nuts, yoghurt cups, little clay pots etc. He with his brother plays in the little play house. He can make “kompittu.” Though he is a boy, he is interested in cooking also. With the brother using their play pots, sboth of them cook. He asks for rice and vegetables from the mother and definitely the mother has to supply them. When those activities are done, most of the time priority should be given to Supun. For instance the fire should be kept as he says, rice should be kept in the pot which he points out. Thus, his brother has to follow his commands. But also sometimes when his brother explains him what Supun said is wrong he listens to him. But not always. Though he is naughty, he is a very lovely character also. He is very attached to his mother, father and elder brother. He loves his mother very much. Most of the time he likes to stay with his mother. When he was with me, if his mother is not seen, he inquires her and searches for her. In the same way, though he quarrels with his brother, he loves his brother very much. For instance, when Supun and his brother were playing his brother make wound his knee. Then Supun with a sad mood examined the wound and informed it to his mother also. In the same way, Supun likes to imitate his father more than others. For an instance, his father uses a weight set to build his body. When Supun, his brother and I were playing, Supun’s father was weighting. When Supun saw it, he also wanted to do so. As I knew other days also, he tries to use those equipments though he is unable to do so. When I asked him why he uses those equipments he answered me that he wants to build his body as his father’s. In the same way, he says that one day he goes to the office early in the morning as his father. He is a funny character also. In their house, there was the wedding photo of Supun’s parents. When I asked why he was not in the photo, he answered that as he is ugly, his parents had not taken him to the photo. He is in a position that he can do everything. There is a half built wall in their house and my friend once sat over it and then jumped from it. When Supun saw it he also wanted to do jump from the wall. But his mother little bit angrily said to stop it and then he stopped it. When his brother climbs a tree he also wants to climb that tree. In the same way, he is unable to do one thing for several minutes. When I sat with him playing with him he just left it and started to draw a picture using a pencil. Again he wanted to watch a video. He watched it three minutes and then he took a book and turning its pages watched the pictures in it. He knows how to turn its pages. In the same way, he knows how to turn on the television, cassette recorder and also knows to turn on and off light. When those activities are done, his mother carefully observes him, whether he is going to fall or not. When a song is telecasted on television, he tries to sing. Supun knows some parts of various songs. The songs like “Digu desa dutuwama, Rammbari kiyapan umbe nombare, I am so lonely broken angel” etc. can be sung by him with his words. Though he is unable to pronounce those words correctly, he takes some effort to sing. Actually, he knows only one or two sentences of a song. When he songs, his mother encourages him. He likes to watch movies also. Specially the cartoons. The characters like Batman, Sonic, Superman, Scooby doo are his favorites. He can remember some significant scenes of those cartoons also. For instance he remembers how batman saved a girl, how Sonic cheated “Robo Tikka” etc. He can repeat the same scene by memory. In the same way, he can recognizes the faces of actors and actresses. Though he does not know names of those actress and actresses, he can say how that actor or actress acted in a film which was seen by him before. When considering his language he can use some words. The words “amma, Tatta. Akka, Ayya, Acchi” etc. can be pronounced by him. Though the exact pronunciation does not come, the listener can understand what he says. He uses different names for different things as “jojo” for water, “baiyam” for rice, “kukku” for milk (of mother) etc. If we can’t understand what he says he tries hard to make us understood. When considering his likes and dislikes he prefers blue color. Actually, most of the shirts and trousers he wears are blue in color. As his parents say he always prefer the blue colour when selecting anything. Actually, most of his toys are also in blue colour. As his parents say, when they were out, he wants a to buy a TipiTip, teddy bear, picture book etc. in blue color. When I asked him why he prefers blue color, he said he just likes that color. Supun is an intelligent boy. He can solve some simple problems and he can logically think. When once I hid one o his favorite toys, he logically thinking took his toy. I took one of his toys and kept it on a cupboard which Supun can’t be easily reached. First he asked me to give it back. When I did not give it, he took a small plastic chair and kept it near the cupboard. Then climbing on it, he reached the toy and took it. It shows that he can logically think and he is intelligent. In the same way, Supun is an easily frustrated character. When I did not give him the toy, he actually thought that I did not give it to him. He is very emotional when he is frustrated. He took his lunch at about 11.30 am and then he wanted to sleep. Till 3.30 he got up. Actually, Supun’s mother is always careful about his behavior. At3.30 pm I stopped my observation. Then I thanked Supun and his parents and came back. Conclusion According to my eight hour observation of two year old H.M. Supun Jayasinha, I can say that he is a very active, playful and mischievous boy. He is an active agent of learning and likes to be independent. In the same way, he can easily change emotions from anger to laughter. He has different likes and dislikes towards foods, toys, movies etc. And he is very attached to his caregivers and interested in others around his environment. References Diane, E., Papalia & Wendkos, S., (1978). Human development. USA: Library of Congress. Parke, R. D,& Locke, V.O, Child Psychology (1999). New York: McGraaaw- Hill College. Rathus, S. A., (2004). Psychology: Concepts and connections (7th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth and Thomson Learning. Shaffer, D. R., (2002), Developmental Psychology; Childhood and Adolescence, Belmont: Wadsworth Learning.