Center Experience

The center I decided to do my observation is a Kindercare. The Kindercare I went to was a big center. There were two sides to the center. One side was just infants and toddlers, and the other side was preschool, prek, and kindergarten. The director welcomed me when I arrived and showed me around the center. She seemed very nice and someone who truly cares about the children. She explained there were two infant rooms and four toddler rooms. I decided to observe in a toddler room. When I arrived at the center it was about 2:30 in the afternoon. The children had just gotten up from naptime and were getting diaper changes. One of the teachers was able to talk to me for a little bit. She told me that normally there are ten children in the class. But since there are only two teachers, two children are moved to different rooms everyday. The room was very inviting. There were many different boards up. The boards were different from what I have seen before. They were all white with no borders. The teacher explained to me that all the rooms at the center were the same. The boards had to be uniform so the rooms don’t become too over stimulating. Both teachers seemed very nice and I could tell the children loved them. By the time I was ready to start my observation, most of the diaper changes had been done. I asked the teacher where I should sit so I wouldn’t be in the way. I sat in the back of the classroom and started to watch the kids. When my observation was over I told the teachers thank you and I walked out. The director met me again and made sure I had everything I needed and welcomed me back anytime I wanted.
Observation Notes Michael age 20 months. Curly brown hair, tan skin, brown eyes. Twin
Playing on the slide structure in the room. Leans over the rail screaming at the caregiver. Kneels down looking at his sister on the other side of the structure. Smiles, climbs into the tunnel on the structure. Sits down. Turns body around and puts feet behind him, lays on his tummy, and scoots down the slide. Gets up and runs to the steps of the structure. Climbs stairs holding on to the sides with both hands. Stands on the last step and turns his body, kneels with left hand on the rail. Looks at another child crying. Looks away and looks at another child climbing the structure. Stands p and yells “hey”. Climbs down structure, walks to bookshelf and leans body against the bookshelf. Walks to the mat and goes to the edge of the mat. Gets on his knees, picks up edge of the mat and folds it. Holds mat with left hand. Pushes mat against another child sitting on the mat. Sits on ground smiles at caregiver who is making silly noises. Takes mat and brings corner down Gets on his knees on all fours, stands up and walks to the other side of the mat, picks up the corner of the mat. Caregiver comes over and says “no thank you.” Walks to shelf and grabs a toy truck. Puts the truck on top of the shelf, moves the truck back and forth while making sounds. Pushes the truck and it crashes into the wall. He laughs at the crash noise. Pushes the truck off the shelf. Bends over grabs another toy car. Looks at the truck and starts to spin the wheels. Puts the truck on the shelf pushes the truck with his left hand. Puts the car in his mouth. Takes the car out of his mouth starts to spin the wheels again. Grabs another toy car from the shelf. Turns to watch caregiver-putting chairs around the table. Fiddles with truck but is still looking at caregiver. Looks toward the door at the person who came in. Turns back to look at the caregiver and walks to the table. Stands behind the chair. Teacher is telling him to sit down; he is not looking at her. Sits down, grabs sippy cup with both hands and raises it to his mouth and starts to suck on the top. Puts cup down and picks it up again and drinks. Opens mouth while caregiver gives him a spoonful of yogurt. Sitting and looking at caregiver. Puts fingers on his left hand in his mouth, takes fingers out to accept another bite of yogurt. Picks up the cup with both hands and drinks again. Watches caregiver feeding other children. Looks at the caregiver and says his name. Caregiver looks at him and gives him another bite of yogurt. Grams a cracker with his left hand and brings it to his mouth. Turn head to watch the caregiver feeding a child in a highchair. Looks away, reaches left hand to grab another cracker. Looks at teacher and makes a noise. Teacher hands him the cracker, he smiles and puts cracker in his mouth. Looks at a child who is putting their arms up, he drops his cracker and puts both arms up as well. Laughs. Most children start to copy as well. Puts arms down, looks at his sister and grabs her cracker. She cries, he looks at her and taps her on the arm. Picks up his cup with both hands. Drinks, hands cup to teacher. Teacher says “all done?” he repeats, “ all done.”