Student Help - Infant/Toddler Observation

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Help!

I have a paper due next week on the subject of Human Development. I am to observe an infant/toddler for a period of one hour, documentment all activities, and report behavior as related to the particular stage of development...blah, blah, blah.

I have no children...the professor recommended going to a mall or a daycare center to perform the observation. The local daycare was not receptive at all to my request to observe a toddler...hmmm wonder why. :rolleyes: And I can't see myself stalking a toddler in the mall for an hour!

Can anyone provide a one hour video of their child involved in some kind of activity?

Thanks! Sal (Student)

Specializes in OB/peds (after gen surgery for 3 yrs).

I work in a daycare center and we get students all the time observing, but they are mostly early childhood ed majors. I would check with schools in your area with early childhood ed programs and see where their students do their observations. Hopefully, you can make a contact that way. You may need something in writing from your school to document you are who you say you are and why you need to observe a child. I'd say come on over to my place, but I think CT is too far away. Good luck.

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I took a class last year for my MSN and had to do two observations. I observed a teen girl sitting w/ other girls at a school/church Christmas bazaar. My daughter attended the school at the time, so it was no big deal. I also went to a breakfast w/ Santa at the same school and observed the school secretary's 2 year old grand daughter for my other paper. Do you have friend you could tag along w/ to some school or scouting type function? Maybe someone in your class who has kids and knows you have to do this type of assignment. My daughter had to do a Denver assessment on a child and I asked a co-worker who was gracious enough to help us out. Maybe one of the ladies in their twenties in your class has a child and would let you observe him/her knowing full well what your intentions are. Also, if you attend a church, you could watch a child at church. My own used to fidget and exhibit all sorts of behaviours. I thought about watching a child at church when I did my own paper. Good luck!

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Holy cow...it seems half the universe is walking through life afraid that if they open themselves up to a "stranger" terrible things will happen...

I found this on google --> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8521237225199190207&q=%223rd%22+and+%22birthday%22+duration%3Along&total=30&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=7

Exactly what I needed to honestly say I observed a 3 year old child and complete my paper.

Have faith in your fellow man. :yelclap:

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My wife is ribbing me as we type...she graduated with her Doctorate several years ago while I worked... right now she is saying "do you really think students actually go out and perform these observations?"

What the hell do I know? I always follow instuctions and follow rules...this is probably why I was beaten throughout highschool...

OK...so I'm going to get wild now...I'll take a run around the house with scissors, drink some milk that expired this morning and perhaps eat some paste...after that I'll write my paper. :cheers:

Oh you poor man, I have to admit I laughed when I read the part about high school. I am an evil being. Seriously I think it is good that you are a rule follower we need more people like you in this world.

However some rules are made to be bent. I am not relegious per say and I don't want to offend anyone on either side but remember when Jesus said that "The Sabbath was made man not man for the Sabbath" Certain things in life fall under this category to me. There are guidelines to everything but nothing should be concrete.

Ok what is the Sci Fi paper about? I was thinking about what a toddler would be like who's mom was the hot green girl and dad Captain Kirk. Although I have to admit William Shatner frightens me outside of his role as Captain Kirk. hahahaha seriously

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.
I believe the OP already tried that.

"I live in a rural area...I have shown up at the local day care with a driver's license, student ID and syllabus which did little more then raise the question "Is this a well prepared pedophile?" I can't begin to describe the "looks". " post #6

If a person allows themselves to be intimidated by the "looks" from others I would say this is something that will be a long term problem for the person. Patients and other people we work with give us "looks" all the time. Then, what do you do? Run away? Maybe some assertiveness instruction is needed here.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
If a person allows themselves to be intimidated by the "looks" from others I would say this is something that will be a long term problem for the person. Patients and other people we work with give us "looks" all the time. Then, what do you do? Run away? Maybe some assertiveness instruction is needed here.

So do you believe that he should return to the daycare that already denied his request and "assert" himself, insisting on gaining entrance to the facility? The daycare's obligation is to protect the safety and enhance the learning of its clientele, not to blindly accomodate the request of an unaffiliated student nurse. If an unknown student came into your hospital or doctor's office with an ID and a syllabus would you allow him to observe your patient care? I sure hope not. And if you did, I would be furious, as your patient.

Unless the instructor has pre-arranged an observation with this facility (which the OP has indicated is not the case), the daycare has absolutely no obligation to accomodate his request. Having a student nurse ID, syllabus and an assignment does not in any way obligate a private daycare to allow an unknown individual to gain access to small children. They were right to turn him away.

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if a person allows themselves to be intimidated by the "looks" from others i would say this is something that will be a long term problem for the person. patients and other people we work with give us "looks" all the time. then, what do you do? run away? maybe some assertiveness instruction is needed here.

i don't think being assertive is the problem here...i am quite persuasive and think perhaps i did not explain myself clearly -- at least in regard to this post.

for this post i focused on "looks" i received, but what i did not clearly state there is there is one daycare in my area that i would consider appropriate for my observation. understanding that i would be monitoring a group of children the director of this facility stated the parents of said children would need to sign a consent form in order for the children to be involved in a scientific observational study.

i find it difficult to read people from text but i think i am a good judge when it comes to real life. so you might have a better understanding of my text -- i am a student yes; however this is my second career and second degree. i graduated with a degree in business - cuma sum laude - i was asked to speak at graduation by the dean.

now...i believe it was you that questioned why i waited so long to complete this assignment and now you are questioning my ability to assert myself. thank you for your concern. i assure you that i have acted in my best interest and appropriately. i am an efficient student and a highly effective communicator.

from the beginning, i felt this observation was inappropriate and my instinct has been proven to be correct. people do not want their children monitored by a stranger, particularly a male stranger. society is bias. i am certain that a nurse of your stature would agree as you have most certainly witnessed the response to the introduction of the "male nurse".

ps. the real observation here and the real topics of interest are societal fears, and stereotypical behavior analysis -- the affects of male presence in nursing. thank you for your help with my paper.:icon_hug:

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ROFL!

:lol2:

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If a person allows themselves to be intimidated by the "looks" from others I would say this is something that will be a long term problem for the person. Patients and other people we work with give us "looks" all the time. Then, what do you do? Run away? Maybe some assertiveness instruction is needed here.

I think there are different kinds of looks. A dirty look from a patient or family member is one thing.

The "are you a pedophile look" is something entirely different. I think he was right to steer clear of the place in this case. They were uncomfortable and he could have been issued a trespass warning by the police if he had pushed the issue with the daycare. Since he lives in a rural area I think he made the right call to not push where he was not wanted so he doesn't become a target for small town cops.

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i don't think being assertive is the problem here...i am quite persuasive and think perhaps i did not explain myself clearly -- at least in regard to this post.

ps. the real observation here and the real topics of interest are societal fears, and stereotypical behavior analysis -- the affects of male presence in nursing. thank you for your help with my paper.:icon_hug:

i agree with you wholeheartdly. right now while i am in school i also work for a law enforcement agency. we have to be very aware of looks at all time. it can make the difference between "the public" flipping out and injuring an employee and trust me some people have attacked cops and civilians alike in broad daylight because of a "look". goes for all employees regardless of whether they hold a badge or not. just like the public sometimes thinks that they have been mistreated by another employee (and they might have been) they then think everyone who works there is a mean bully of a cop and they give out "the look" themselves.

on the flip side of that i have seen similar situations where males made someone uncomfortable just by being in the vicinity and a deputy had to respond to that and make a judgment call.

if you had stayed at that day care if you lived in my area you would have had the cops called on you and they would have trespassed you with a written warning. if you did not leave imediately they would have slapped cuffs on you in record time. i have seen some cases like this where it was a misunderstanding and for the record male cops are more likely to think another guy is dog or pervert then alot of the female cops. this is in keeping with your society biased comment. men are still not viewed as safe creatures by many aspects of society even though women are equally as dangerous.

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