Observational Field Notes

Child who had been in Nursery

• Was fine when mother left the room, although did not sit next to the ‘stranger’ and held onto her comforter (Jack Jack).
• The child’s arms wrapped around the comforter and for awhile there was no verbal communication and the NVC was extremely negative.
• As the ‘stranger’ used utterances of help of a toy, the child moved closer to see they toy. Yet she still held onto her comforter and did not lose grip.
• However, the child was responding to the ‘stranger’s’ utterances and answering her questions.
• The child bought up her own conversations (hole in the tights) and was quite happy to talk away.
• The child was being awkward and cheeky as she knew she had the control as to some questions she replied “I don’t know” with a mischievous grin.
• Never once asked about the whereabouts of her mother or what she was doing.
• Was extremely content to sit and interact with the ‘stranger’ and to show her how to work particular toys.
• They more the two spoke the closer the child got and the more the child looked up to the ‘stranger’
• Smiling and laughing as well as cuddling and nuzzling up to the stranger’s shoulders.
• Sometimes there were awkward silences where the child was aware of the camera and kept looking at it.
• However, she did not ignore or attempt to move away from the ‘stranger’.
• The child allowed for the ‘stranger’ to tickle her and touch her arm to get attention.
• Yet, she did not let the ‘stranger’ cuddle or comfort her even when the ‘stranger’ asked for a cuddle or if the child wanted to sit on her lap.
• Neither would the child allow for the ‘stranger’ to comfort ‘Jack Jack’ (the child’s comforter).
• The child kept the comforter close to her and it did not leave her lap. Even when asked the answer was a straight no!
• Yet, the dolls that were available, the ‘stranger’ was allowed to play with, but not the comforter.
• I, being the researcher was the first to enter back into the situation, before the child’s mother.
• The child did turn her attention to me; talking and telling me what had been going on.
• The child remained next to the ‘stranger’ though and then after a few minutes the child moved next to me and sat on my lap, placing the comforter down.
• When the mother returned to the room, the child did not seem phased and did not move towards her mother. The child answered her mother’s questions.
• Yet was quite happy to remain sitting on my lap and to talk to the ‘stranger’.
• After about five minutes the child moved to her mother’s lap, but still kept eye contact and in conversation with the ‘stranger’ and myself.
• Concludes that the child was extremely happy to interact and be left with other people other than her mother.
• The child was not affected by the disappearance or absence of her mother.
• The child was extremely comfortable and content in her surroundings, even when the mother returned, the child was not running to greet her or be comforted by her.