Beyond the borders of ‘ordinary’: difficult observations and their implications

Abstract

The ordinary family prescribed in Mrs Bick's model of infant observation, along with the ordinary student who engages in the study of infant observation, has changed in the more than 60 years since this groundbreaking methodology was introduced. Socio-cultural developments and the expansion of infant observation around the world have introduced variables that, while not altering established practices, do bring fresh challenges to providing the experience Mrs Bick so straightforwardly described. In this paper, the author takes up the question of whether, when, and how changes to Mrs Bick's long-established, tried, and true techniques might be justified, or even warranted. Using examples from observations where what took place strained the definition of ‘ordinary’, she raises additional questions about what our responsibility is to participating families when more than usually difficult situations arise. The aim of the paper is to open a discussion about these issues that are likely to affect teachers of infant observation everywhere at one time or another.

Keywords:

• infant observation
• ordinary families
• difficult observations
• modifications of technique
• socio-cultural changes and observation
• participant observation

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank the two observers who so generously allowed me to use their material. Thanks also to Janice Delaney and especially to Sharon Alperovitz for their support and helpful editorial comments.