ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the importance of developing key observational skills in order to be able to reflect accurately on children's behaviour. It presents a historical overview of the study of children's development, demonstrating an increasingly systematic and scientific approach. The chapter focuses on the consideration of small-scale naturalistic observational methods, as this is the approach that was predominantly used by Sheridan to inform her work. The benefits of systematic observation are highlighted and some simple examples of how this can be achieved are outlined. These examples of observational methods are presented with reference to some of the observations made by Sheridan throughout the chapter. The Age of Enlightenment contributed to changes in our conceptualisation of childhood and influential thinkers such as Locke and Rousseau described their philosophical ideas about human development. Environmental experiences shaped the mind through association, repetitive exposure, imitation, reward and punishment. Piaget combined naturalistic observations with experimental procedures to develop his influential theory of child development.
