Children’s Research

AM was with their sibling F,who had previously used the talking tins, smiling and asked if they could use the talking tin. As the researcher was helping F, AM asked if they could hold the buttons, which they did. AM encouraged their sibling F to speak into the tin, when they did they both laughed.

A2 started dancing and as they did, two others began to join in. A2 went on to ask the other child (who they lead around the site as it was their first week) if they were having fun.

Two boys approached Girl AA and her friend while they were playing in the tuff tray. They played alongside each other for a minute or so and then one of the boys asked if he and his friend/brother could borrow her and her brother’s scooters. Girl AA agreed.

Child C was confident to ask adults if they had seen his scooter. They ran around the whole site, peering behind trees and bushes, stopping briefly at the chicken coop to look at the chickens and chat to a member of staff. Another child came up and child C explained to them that they were looking for their scooter. The other child offered to help, and they ran off together (followed by an adult).

The same child as in Twinkle also recorded this message singing the ABC song. This could show a level of comfort with the environment both in that they want to relay this information, and in getting praise and affirmation afterward.

Here is the voice of two children who, when prompted by a researcher if they had anything they’d like to say, demonstrated echoic behaviour in the phrase ‘Love you’. Echoic behaviour is a form of social learning, where children learn through imitation.