Naturalistic Observation of a Four Year Old

Human development takes a series of stages right from the time a child is born through adolescents and eventually adulthood. Through the various stages children and even adults experience different changes molded an array of factors as well as own discoveries. Human development entails learning new things are applying them into their growth process. Children learn from the environments they interact with and they tend to follow what they observe in people around them. They go through a phase of physical, cognitive, social and emotional development all of which are crucial in determining the adults they become. It is a times difficult to understand how people grow and learn different things which determine how they act. There are various theories that explain the process of human development based on certain underlying examples. One of the theories is cognitive development theory and this explains the development of human thought process. Jean Piaget’s cognitive theory explains that people build knowledge as the discover and interact with the world around them. It revolves around the thought process and the mental condition. Another crucial theory is the social learning model which explains that behaviors can be learnt through representations or modeling. It is a theory by Albert Bandura who explains that through observing what others does one learn. For instance children can learn from parents, peers teachers among others. Psychosocial development theory by Erickson is an eight stage model which explains that people face conflicts during each stage which influences later functioning and growth. In this case social interacting experience plays critical roles in development. 

Observation  

Jayden is my nephew and he is four years old and in his early years of school. I visited their home where they stay with his mother, father and two elder siblings who are aged 6 and 8. I spoke to her mother concerning the observation that I wanted to conduct on a Sunday afternoon when everyone was home and in relaxation mood. In the house they he is playing with her two sisters while his mother and I are in general stories. Their father is busy doing something in his laptop. I ensure that I am unobtrusive as possible and so they play without realizing that someone is watching and recording anything about them. Jayden seem so much absorbed in stacking piles of cubes together as her sisters watch and cheer him up making every correct movement. He is excited and giggles loudly calling his mother “Mummy! Mummy! Look I am a little yamp (chap)mama!” His mother claps for him and calls him a good boy. He continues and when he messes up her sister Kylie corrects her by putting the right stack. He patiently observes and then removes and does the exact thing her sister showed him. 

Her sisters laugh at him when he tries to lay his head on the full stack of cubes but fell on his tummy instead. He cries and becomes agitated. Jayden comes to his mother to report the issue saying “Kylie and Killeen are laughing at me tell them to say sorry mummy” he is only relieved and goes back to playing after being told sorry. In a few minutes he forgets and continues to giggle and play with his sisters. He goes to the table and starts to paint. The table from where he is painting is close to the window and he can see outside. A bird and rested on a flower branch outside and Jayden stops to observe it keenly as it sucks nectar form the flower. He then begins to imitate what the bird is doing. 

Jayden then continues to paint for a couple of minutes before coming to where his mother was complaining that he is hungry and wants some crisps. He waits for his mother while singing a baby Jesus song and by this time he is looking at no particular point. When he sees his mother he hurries to sit at the dining to enjoy his snack. After taking his snack he takes a broom and begins to drive in the house pretending it is a car. I asked his mother a couple of questions regarding Jayden and she states that he is a sharp boy who learns very fast when he is taught. She also stated that he observes what others do and imitates them real quick. He also loves to be apologized to when offended and easily does the same when he makes any one upset. He communicates whenever he is uncomfortable and when he needs something like food, water or any other help. 

Analysis  

In looking at Jean Piaget’s cognitive theory which explains that people build knowledge as they discover and interact with the world around them it is important to note that children are sharp in observing people around them. The theory has four stages and Jayden is in the preoperational stage which is a developmental step of children between two to seven years. It is the stage which is majorly characterized by language development . Jayden is learning to pronounce certain words for instance instead of him saying a champ he says a yamp. He is also not able to pronounce his sister’s name Kylie well but he tries to repeat again and again. He is also egocentric as he does not want to take the point of view of his sisters when they try to correct his pronunciation. A term Piaget refers to as egocentrism. He also uses objects to represent something else just like he uses the broom as a car. He listens keenly and seem to understand conversations but only answers when it touches on him or his name is mentioned. 

Jayden also quickly learns from the surrounding as he is seen observing his sisters staking cubes and he watches them for a moment and joins in stacking. Similarly, when he goes wrong in his stacking and he is corrected he observes and learns from Kylie. Additionally, when he sees a bird on flower eating nectar he imitates the movement it makes as it bends to take nectar and looks up to swallow it. It is through reinforcement that he continues to play when he is told by his mother that he is a good boy he becomes excited and this motivates him to play more as he enjoys and learns. It is the positive reinforcement that makes him to continue playing. On the other hand when his sisters laugh at him when he falls he cries and stops to report the issues to his mother indicating that being laughed at caused a negative reinforcement making him to stop playing. Social learning model is a theory by Albert Bandura who explains that through observing what others does one learn. For instance children can learn from parents, peers teachers among others 

The boy also can also been seen trying to take control and power while they are playing for instance he takes over from his sisters and continues to play until he gets bored. It is an indication that he is asserting control and power. He is in the third stage of development according to Erickson . It is initiative vs guilt which makes him to want to take charge play and become a champion. He is not told what to do when he gets bored he goes to paint and then asks for a snack when he is hungry he to9tally in control of what he does. When children want to exercise control on things not suitable for them parents or caregivers can use modeling and reinforcement to ensure that they develop in the right path. When children succeed in this stage they find purpose and when they fail they become guilty . Children in this stage interpret mistakes as failure. 

Reference  

Lerner, R. M. (2001).  Concepts and theories of human development . Psychology Press.