Anecdotal records

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Anecdotal records
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What is an anecdote?

• The term anecdote means a short narrative or
  story
• It is told or recorded in past tense
• Form of recording observations of children

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When will you observe?

• Children engaged in an activity or interaction
  with others
• The observation starts when the child begins to
  engage in an activity or an interaction and
  finishes when the child stops participating
• Record your observation as soon as possible after
  the event to ensure that you remember significant
  information eg. Direct quotes, hand preference.

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What will you record?

• Record what you see or hear - objectively
• Body language, facial expressions, tone of voice
  and direct quotes (if you can)
• Focus on information that is significant
• Record in sequence no gaps
• The reader of the record should be able to
  understand the sequence of events

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How will you record?

• Use the format provided on the CD
• Record childs first name and age in years and
  months eg. (2.3)
• Record observers name and date of observation
• Offer a purpose for the observation eg. To
  identify gross motor skills
• Describe the setting eg. Sandpit with a carer
  during outside play

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What do we use anecdotal records for?

• Useful for recording significant events that tell
  us something about the childs development,
  interests, strengths, emerging skills and needs.
• Anecdotal observations may focus on one area of
  development or skill or several areas at once.

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Advantages

• Reasonably easy to do
• Do not stop you from interacting with the child
  can be recorded later
• Observer can be either participator or
  non-participator
• Useful for planning and learning
• You can focus on one area of development or skill
  at a time

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Disadvantages

• The observers involvement may influence the
  childs behaviour
• Relies on the memory of the observer
• Some detail may be forgotten eg. Direct quotes