Observing Harry

by Cath Arnold

“the book shows quite powerfully ...how a well-resourced and flexible learning environment can be exploited by children to channel their interests and expand their understanding… As well as contributing to our understanding of learning, it should also serve… to inform debate about gaining children’s consent in the research process.” Early Years This book is about Harry, a determined little boy, who is intrinsically motivated to explore his world from an early age. His parents and grandparents find him so fascinating that they keep a written and video diary of Harry's play from when he is 8 months to five years. The author offers theories about how children learn and applies the theories to the observations of Harry.

The book demonstrates how effectively Harry accesses each area of the curriculum through his interests. It shows how Harry develops coping strategies when the family experiences major changes. It also highlights the contribution made by Harry's parents and his early years educators to his early education. Much of what we learn about Harry's early learning can be applied to many other young children.

This book about one child's early development and learning will be of interest to all who are fascinated by how young children learn - nursery practitioners, early years teachers, parents, students and advisers.

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Grace Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, easy-ready which gave me an insight into the process of observing children in a non-judgemental way. Arnold writes only about what is experienced, and this is done without letting biases or schema interfere.
I learnt a little about the development of children through this book, although I thought there could have been more of this. The book was very good at addressing the changes Harry went through, but did not often offer a cognitive explanation for these changes, which I would have liked.

[Irene Calera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and useful to learn about child development through a real case study. More specific for boys.