https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21 Share you reflections on the Theme of 'Parent-Infant Relationship' with your peers. Be sure to post and also comment on other posts. en-us 2022-03-08 22:52:53 UTC 2022-04-22 00:57:23 UTC hello@padlet.com arwheeler2 https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2095635211 I too struggled a little with this. I was keeping in mind the parent-infant relationship (as I had noticed we had not covered this in this exercise). Within the Bonnie filming, let me first start with a thanks to the family! I appreciated the family sharing the video footage with us, as I value the opportunity they afforded us to learn and observe. 
I was very conscious of the adult within the  film being very conscious of the filming of their time. There was Bonnie (a baby), a toddler and I am assuming at this point a mother. It was interesting watching the interactions of all three trying to navigate the same space, some times successfully and other sometimes not so much. For a large amount of time the TV was on and mother could be drawn into the movie with the toddler, or the toddler could distract the mother or converse with the mother. As I was observing the baby and the mother this was distracting and I may have brought a bias or my own need into this and I had to make a conscious effort to remind myself that this was but a slice of the day in the families interactions together. 
So although the attunement in this first hour was not the best due to the distraction of the toddler, the TV and other aspects of the environment (dog, sand pit, retravel of the sunscreen). I did note that much of the time the mothers attention was divided, as did the baby, a constant through out the film showed the baby trying to attract care from the mother, an example being whilst feeding and when the mother's attention was else where. This would look like a scream, yell, or movement. At one point the mother tried to get the babies attention (the baby started to watch TV like her mother and sister (I am assuming at this point it was her sibling)), the mother returned to what she was doing and the baby looked to the mother immediately and yelled for her attention, which may conform to the development of the internal modeling and behaviors we have read so much about.
A great deal happened quickly, I wonder if I was to take minute by minute notes, although accurate, would they miss the driver's of the interactions or equally miss-represent a caring mother raising a young family.
Over all I enjoyed the exercise.  I look forward to continuing the story of Bonnie.

Keep on smiling
Tony Wheeler]]> 2022-03-15 10:08:08 UTC https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2095635211 https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2097463650 I interpreted Bonnie's behaviour as very independent. My observation notes reflect an infant that has little interest in her mother or sister except for when Mum is feeding her. During feeding, Bonnie gets impatient when the spoon takes too long to come back, and when given the spoon to chew, then having it taken away, she was very determined to get it back by pulling Mum's arm toward her and trying to hold it there. 
Throughout the observation I noted that Bonnie ignored most of what was going on around her, in favour of mouthing her toy. Even when Mum yelled and Ruby screamed, Bonnie barely reacted. When Bonnie's toy was stuck underneath her and she couldn't get it out, she did cry out in frustration, but when help didn't come she didn't break out into cries, she problem solved and lay her down on the side, chewing from that position. 
When her sister was extremely upset, Bonnie paid no attention, where I might have thought she would cry due to the noise/tone/out of sympathy as many infants do. 
These things are perhaps a clue that Bonnie is used to Mum's attention being divided, that the older sister is demanding and takes much of Mum's time and Bonnie is used to it, knowing that her mother will still provide the basics when she needs them. This early on, I feel that the relationship Bonnie and her mother have is detached, with Bonnie learning that she has to rely on herself a lot. ]]> 2022-03-16 07:02:28 UTC https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2097463650 https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2099089706 The first thing that came to mind:
I noticed that Mum said 'don't' quite a lot, as Henley was interested in exploring spaces that she didn't want him to access. 
Although her interactions with Henley were warm I found her to hover over him a bit, especially during play, and she would use toys to redirect him during caregiving times such as nappy changing and meals. I also found these caregiving moments rushed as if it was a task just to get completed, rather than an bonding opportunity. 
I noticed during dinner that Henley showed interest in the observer and smiled at the camera and mum quickly regained his attention again. 

I also thought that she had her own agenda in directing Henley's play. For example when she was attempting to read the book to him she would read the page and Henley would flip back to a page and she would quickly comment on it and focus on reading the entire book rather than discussing the page that caught his interest. Once the book had finished she quickly directed his play back to the ball. 

Sometimes, I feel like the educator in me can be highly critical of parents and their interactions with children. Perhaps I am judging the mother unfairly. ]]> 2022-03-17 01:29:10 UTC https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2099089706 https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2102594292 Obvious disclaimer - small slice of the day only, beginning of the observational journey, haven't got an extensive history of the family etc but my gosh it is very difficult to collect facts free from interpretation and try and relinquish current professional identity! My views below seem very judgy!

Mum has limited affect throughout (especially with the infant interactions) and I think this translates to the infant who also shows limited outward expression of internal emotions.  There was limited physical touch and a lot of physical distancing. I felt mum and infant where not particularly attuned and mum didn't appear present at times.

I observed some matching/mirroring at meal time (mouth open mum/mouth open infant, yum says mum/yum sounds infant) and it did present as an enjoyable experience for both infant and mum for some of the time and I say some as there was some rupture/repair observed with the interruptions of the meal experience.

In relation to interactions with wider family. The infant has one small interaction with sibling whereby sibling stops in front of infant, says her name and pats her head. Infant very occasionally notices sibling throughout the hour and turns head in her direction.

I wish to learn more about the theme of distress/joy and what's baby doing/what's mum doing as I'm unsure what to observe here?

- Tania Harrington

]]> 2022-03-18 23:26:32 UTC https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2102594292 https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2103404919 Reading the comments about Bonnie and the quality of interaction with mum, I found myself reflecting on the mother's actions: In observation 3, there are elements of interaction between Bonnie and Mum through play, talking. At one stage the mother walks off out of the room (the grandma is still present. The mother is preoccupied with the toddler, and conversation with the grandmother, both of which impact on her ability to attune to her infant. Despite this she is diligent enough to change Bonnie's bib when it gets soaked, and ensuring that the glass is removed from Bonnie's reach. Physical touch is minimal (holds Bonnie around the waist at some point to stabilise her in a sitting position), but I interpreted this as the mother being respectful of Bonnie's playtime and freedom in exploration. In terms of the father, Bonnie squeals with excitement when he arrives. He briefly picks her up, and then places her back on the play gym. From the conversation that take place, the family seems to have an extended family and social network, which would undoubtedly be beneficial to Bonnie's development. The grandmother seems to be a very strong constant in Bonnie's life, with the family unit looking at ease in the grandmother's home.]]> 2022-03-20 04:54:23 UTC https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2103404919 https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2126900044 Mum appears to be well attuned to Henley's wants and needs. There are some lovely reciprocal interactions, particularly during meal times and milk feeds. 
Mum is often nearby as Henley pulls to stand on the furniture and guides him to safe areas to play. Henley doesn't appear to become overly upset all that often, but when he does indicate that he's upset by crying a little, Mum comforts him and he calms quite quickly. 

]]> 2022-04-03 04:28:05 UTC https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2126900044 https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2140480963 I found Jessica's movements to be quite hurried in video one and quite direct. She seemed to want to rush through tasks and this was perhaps to open up a window for play or engagement. She was quite fast paced but not frenzied.

Jessica seems confident in her ability to parent and presents with an overall 'can do' attitude. She has a great handle on his routine (it appears), and was very calmly sitting with him, offering him food, and sampling it herself to model that she wanted him to try the sausage. She engaged in reciprocal actions to initiate things she wanted him to do, but also followed his lead, especially when it came to walking around and lifting himself up.

Jessica was very attuned to Henley's needs and was aware when he was in potentially hazardous parts of the room. I thought they had great eye contact and found Jessica to be very present and responsive.


]]> 2022-04-12 07:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2140480963 https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2145327224 I though the parents could not relax in front of the camera. I felt that Dad has not previously spend a lot of time with Henley although there was strong attachment there. I like the way dad kissed Henley's head where as I didn't see much of that with mum. I also felt like mum had a hard time relaxing, maybe if/when they have another child they will realise that you can't follow your kids around cleaning up after them. It's pretty obvious that mum as a structured routine and she is confident with her parenting. ]]> 2022-04-16 04:18:36 UTC https://padlet.com/katerenshaw/kiz7h0k6d9ywjx21/wish/2145327224