How to Observe a Child's Behavior

Whether you have concerns about how your child is acting with her friends, are wondering if the defiance that her pre-K teacher reports at school is real or are just questioning her behaviors, making careful observations can help you notice patterns or pick up on issues for further evaluation. Although you'll need an expert -- such as the pediatrician or a child development professional -- to truly assess your child's potentially problematic behaviors, you can use your observational skills to note minor difficulties or make notes to give to the doctor.

Things You'll Need

  • Notebook
  • Pencil
  • Laptop
  • Video camera

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose an activity to observe. Pick a time of day when you know your child is active -- such as his midmorning playtime. Define the behavior that you have a concern with or that you are looking to see.

    • 2

      Sit down in a comfortable spot that provides a full range of access to your child and her behaviors. For example, take a seat on your living room couch as your child plays on the carpet nearby. Stay out of your child's way, avoiding seating places that will make her have to move around you.

    • 3

      Decide on your note-taking tactic. Choose either a running record approach that includes detailed notes or the story of what is happening, or go with an anecdotal style that includes brief points such as one incident.

    • 4

      Take out a notepad and pencil. Write down notes on what you see. Use a shorthand or abbreviations you will remember. Substitute a laptop if you feel that your typing skills far outweigh your ability to write quickly.

    • 5

      Follow what the National Association for the Education of Young Children terms the ABC -- or "Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence" -- model. Observe all of your child's actions, looking for the antecedents -- what is happening before a specific behavior -- the behavior itself and the consequence, or what is happening directly after the behavior. Carefully watch your child at all times to catch the antecedent behaviors.

    • 6

      Ask another adult or an older child -- such as your teenager -- to sit with you and step in as needed. Allow the extra person to handle emotional outbursts or the consequences of the behaviors, allowing you to remain free to observe.

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