• If the child seems
nervous about a
stranger touching or
examining her, have
the parent do as
much of it for you
as possible. This
will let the mother
know that you
respect and want to
include her. And she
may learn more.
EXAMINATION 25
• Make the waiting area and
place where you do the
examining as pleasant
and as much like home
as you can. Have lots of
toys, from very simple
to complex, where the
children can choose
and play with them. By
watching if, how, for how
long, with what, and with
whom a child plays, you
can learn a lot about what
a child can and cannot do,
his level of physical and
mental development, the
types of problems he has,
and the ways he has (or
has not yet) adapted to
them.
Watching how a child plays—
by herself, with people, and
with toys—is an essential
part of evaluating the child.
disabled village children