This student observed a 5-year-old boy (Heath) that participated in a horse show with other kids and adults in Fountain, Colorado. The members of this club meet and compete in horse events during the summer months. The horse show has participants of different age and different skill levels.
The first stage (Lead Line) has beginner level participants from any age group. Heath’s group (Pea Wee’s) is the next level up from the Lead Line group and consists of ages 6 and under. The next level is for more advanced children between 7 and 10. The next levels of the horse show also increase in increments of certain sets of ages that go up to any age. Heath’s participation and interactions with his grandfather’s horse and social interactions with the club were documented. The horse that Heath participated on was a well-trained horse that has been roped off and trained to listen to its rider for at least 4 or 5 years.
Heath’s abilities and developments processes were noted about how he rode the horse and how he interacted with his family who were giving him instructions. His behavior, attention span, attitude, mapping abilities, excitement levels, learning styles and basic interactions will be viewed through developmental psychology. Some other interactions will be specifically related to his physical, motor, social, emotional, cognitive, language developments. Heath will also be briefly compared to the groups immediately above and below him, as well as, some of Heath’s interactions within this environment will be examined. Heath has participated in the Fountain show events since he was 4; although, Heath has been raised around horses and has been on them before he could walk.
He practices riding his grandfathers horse at home with h. . s. Heath also had some abilities that were not as developed as some of the other children, especially in linguistic communication and complex sentencing. Heath was able to learn through his mentors and further his learning development through adult guidance.
Heath was able to socialize with other children without them focusing on his language deficiency. Heath seems as if he was not as emotionally stable as other children. His lack of speech development prevents Heath from expressing all of his wants and needs because of his inadequate speech. This student could also be confusing Heaths difficult temperament with a lesser emotional state. Heath has some qualities that are greater than others his age but his speech setback may cause some further unforeseen delays. Works CitedBee, Helen, & Boyd, Denise.
, (2010). The Developing Child. Boston, Ma: Pearson Education
