How to Give Details About Children in Observations

Define the scope of your observation. If you're performing an experiment, you'll need to record everything the child does so that you don't skew the data. If you're observing a child to determine whether or not she has a learning disability, many observations may be irrelevant. While it's important to include everything that could possibly be relevant, too much detail about irrelevant items can obscure important information.

Make fact-based observations rather than opinion-based ones. For example, say, "Sarah enjoys art, music and math. She has also excelled in school and recently learned to play the violin." Don't say, "Sarah is a smart and creative child." It's also important to avoid making judgments about interactions between children. "I witnessed John bullying Jason" does not provide sufficient information about the bullying and is loaded with judgment. Instead, say, "John approached Jason and threw his books on the ground. Jason responded by crying."

Look for and document patterns. For instance, note whether a certain child asks to use the restroom every day at the same time or if a child always cries at school after she's spent the night with her dad. Behaviors that repeat themselves are important clues to a child's emotional state.

Write down direct quotes from the children themselves. The words children use can provide vital information about a child's emotional and intellectual development. Further, when you write down direct quotes you will be able to revisit them later and may form different opinions than you did at the moment of observation.