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Running, pinching one another, throwing toys to hit the wall, and messing out with food served for meals are some of the actions that children do. Although these actions are not normal in the eyes of a concerned parent, these are merely ways of how a child communicates to his playmates as well as to anyone in a room. This is why it is important to properly observe a child with regards to how he acts, plays, and even connect with the other children in order to understand and perceive his intentions and purposes. With the use of a child observation form, parents and teachers will be able to rate their assessment of their child and use the outcome for analyzing what steps to take in addressing their child’s needs.

Child Observation Form in DOC

What Is a Child Observation Form?

A child observation form is an essential document used for gathering the insights and comments of the observer about a child’s actions and behaviors. The form is significant in determining what type of activities will be suitable for the child based on his interests and skills. Additionally, it can also aid the parent of the child to track his child’s progress and the changes in the child’s behavior if the observation is done regularly.

What to Include in a Child Observation Form?

Aside from the child’s general information, a child observation form must also contain the following:

Language assessment

This refers to how the child was able to communicate with the people around him whether through words or actions and symbols. Through conducting the observations on a regular basis, the observer will be able to distinguish the changes in the way the child interprets information and responses to situations.

Behavior observations

During the observation period, the observer or the teacher should jot down notes of how the child acted on certain incidents in his surroundings. In the behavior observation section, the observer will be provided with a list of activities that the child needs to be involved such as listening to stories and playing with the other kids. Determining a child’s behavioral issues is important since this will aid the parents in knowing if their child has special needs or if there are some undesirable actions portrayed by the child that were affected by the influence of his family and friends.

Physical assessment

Observers must also indicate a description of the child’s physical appearance on the form along with the child’s medical information. This is done in order to record the child’s physical changes such as the height and weight. Monitoring the child’s health is important to secure that any underlying medical issues will be addressed immediately before it reaches a severe condition.

Child Test Observation Form

Child Observation Permission Form

Child and Parent Observation Form

Direct Child Observation Checklist Form

Varieties of Child Observation Forms

A child observation form will vary on the topics to be included on the document. Listed below are five of the most common varieties of this form that are used by observers and teachers:

• Child Test Observation Form – When a series of tests are provided for the child to answer, a child test observation form is the appropriate document to use. The form will state what type of tests were administered to the child, when it was conducted, as well as the length of the tests and the observation period. With this, the observer must indicate whether the child has passed the criteria and standards of the test in order to determine if the child is suitable for educational opportunities such as scholarships. The child’s illnesses and disabilities will also be included on the form to enlist what types of childcare services will be the best options for the child’s welfare and education.
• Child Observation Permission Form – This form is used by college students who are in their practicum semester where they will be observing a child for a specified period of time. The form is identical to a parental consent which will contain the names of the child’s parents, the name of the student who will be observing the child, the intention of the student, and the location or the place where the observation will be conducted. The bottom of this form is the area where the parents will indicate whether or not they will grant permission to the student for the observation. The parents must affix their signatures on the form with a date to certify that the approval was done formally and legally.
• Child and Parent Observation Form – How a child and his parent interact with one another will be determined by using this form. Specifically, the form must cater the child and the parent’s information which are their names along with the child’s date of birth. There are two separate sections wherein the first is the observation for the child’s interaction while the second is for the parent’s responses toward the child. This allows the observer to take note of the child’s way to communicate with his parent through speaking and using available objects within the area. Additionally, the form will also aid the observer in helping the parent respond better to the child’s needs and promote strategies that will improve their relationship in the long run.
• Direct Child Observation Checklist Form – Compared to the aforementioned forms, this document is in a checklist format where questions are answered with a yes or a no. This checklist questionnaire form is commonly used by physicians who deal with children’s illnesses and health issues. The form contains a table where the observer, such as the physician or the child’s caregiver, will indicate the child’s symptoms. The treatments given to the child as well as other prescriptions of the child’s doctors should also be stated to allow the observer in knowing more about the child’s condition. A re-examination form is also enclosed with this document in order for the observer to conduct an effective evaluation of the child’s medical progress.

Child observation forms can also be accompanied by a child’s photograph during the day of the observation. Nonetheless, the type of images to enclose on the form will depend on what the parents and the organization allow to be taken since children are minors.