Nursery World - Stop and watch

The value of making constant observation in the nursery is demonstrated by Kartherine Fisher and Fraser Brown In a hectic early years environment, busy practitioners often feel that they have to use what precious time they have to interact with the children, and so view observing children as a luxury.

In a hectic early years environment, busy practitioners often feel that they have to use what precious time they have to interact with the children, and so view observing children as a luxury.

Such feelings are understandable, but we should never underestimate the value of objective observation. Maria Montessori believed a teacher should teach little and observe much. Consider this example.

Josh (three years) walks into the classroom and asks, 'Where's Rosie?' He smiles when he sees her and walks over to her. They bounce up and down, facing each other. Rosie (three years) takes some books from the table and drops them on the floor. 'Let's go for a walk with books!' she says.

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