ABSTRACT
In this chapter you will be introduced to observation as a tool for learning more about children. You will read some famous examples of observations and see how they have enabled the authors to understand more about individual children. You will consider the concept of ‘the thinking observer’ and see if it makes sense to you. You will think about how observation can help you know more about children whose cultures, languages and experiences might not be familiar to you. You will be introduced to the idea that observation itself is a learning tool and something that is used by both children and adults.
