Switched on

Observation in setting

Tamara has shown interest in the telephones in the office and role-play areas over several weeks. She is often observed pressing buttons randomly and engaging in pretend conversations with members of her family. The electronic till in the shop is also a favourite toy and she repeatedly presses the key to open the drawer. When staff recently introduced a new listening centre, Tamara was excited and eager to explore the buttons, showing delight at the results of her actions.

Information from home

When practitioners talk to her father about their observations, he reports that Tamara is also fascinated by technology at home. She is keen to help programme the washing machine and often experiments with the television remote control. When they arrive home from nursery, she wants to be the one to press the keys to deactivate the burglar alarm, although her father explains that this can be difficult because of the need for speed. Tamara also loves to sit on her father's knee while he works at the computer and likes to move the mouse around the mat as she watches the screen. At bedtime, she insists on being the one to turn off the light, standing on her toy box to reach the switch.