Home Visitation Observations of Parent-Child Interactions
Infant Is the parent able to meet each need
and Child according to the developmental
Needs stage of the infant or child?
Physical Feeding schedule is regular and
includes proper nutrition
Sleep schedule is adequate and
regular
Clothing is appropriate, dry, clean,
and comfortable
Parent responds to discomfort or
distress expressed by the infant or
child
Parent comments on what the infant
or child likes or dislikes in terms of
the infant’s physical needs
Medical issues are addressed
including regular check- ups with
family doctor or pediatrician
Home environment is safe
Parent encourages or provides
opportunities for the infant and child
to develop physical skills such as
grasping, holding, throwing,
dropping, crawling, climbing,
walking, etc.
Emotional Parent initiates eye contact and
smiling
Parent initiates touch, holding, baby
massage, cuddling, and rocking
Parent initiates talking, singing, or
story telling
Parent attempts to soothe the infant or
child if the infant or child is upset
Alberta Home Visitation Network Association
Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide
03/09
Is the parent responding in a
timely and appropriate
manner? Comments
Roshey’s feeding schedule is
regular but does not always
consist of nutritious food.
Roshey has a nap every afternoon
and is normally asleep by eight
o’clock every night.
Roshey clothing is always clean
but are often too small which
leads me to believe they may be
uncomfortable.
Sometimes Roshey cries for a few
minutes before he is attended to.
Roshey’s dad was able to share
many stories about his likes and
dislikes with me.
Roshey’s family do not have a
family doctor. He is taken to the
public hospital when he is not
feeling well.
Roshey lives in a safe and friendly
neighborhood.
Roshey visits his grandparents on
their farm daily. As a result, he is
always walking around the yard,
trying to climb the trees and
crawling over his grandmother’s
furniture’s.
I observe both of Roshey’s
parents initiating eyes contact and
smiling with him on several
occasions.
Roshey’s mother is very
affectionate and is always
cuddling him.
Roshey’s parents talk to him is he
is crying, or they want to give him
a bath or a bottle. His mom told
me that they rarely tell him
stories.
Sometimes, but on several
occasion, I observed his parent
1

Parent takes time to be playful with
their infant or child
Parent comments on their infant’s or
child’s likes or dislikes in terms of
affection
Alberta Home Visitation Network Association
Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide
03/09
becoming furious because he
refused to stop crying.
Yes, they do. I observed Roshey
screaming in utter delight while
playing with his dad.
Roshey’s dad is aware of the
things he likes and dislikes and
enjoys sharing them with others.
2
 (cont’d)
Home Visitation Observations of Parent-Child Interactions
Intellectual Parent talks to the infant or child
Infant or child can see interesting
objects with bright colors.
Parent provides toys and objects for
the infant or child to touch and play
with
Parent initiates teachable moments
such as counting objects, naming
objects, animals, etc.
Parent reads to the child, teaches
rhymes and songs, enables coloring,
etc.
Parent takes time to be playful with
their infant or child and uses play as
an opportunity to let the child
explore and learn
Parent comments on what their
infant or child likes or dislikes to
play with, such as favorite games,
songs, toys, etc.
Social Parent provides opportunities for the
infant or child to interact with others
initially through listening and
observation by the infant
Parent takes time to be playful with
their infant or child
With increased mobility, the child
has the freedom to initiate
interactions by turning to hear a
Alberta Home Visitation Network Association
Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide
03/09
Roshey’s parents do not
engage him in daily
conversations. They speak
to him when they want to
feed him, give him a bath or
it is his nap time.
Yes, I observed him picking
some colorful flowers for
his mother during one of my
visits.
Roshey has toy trucks and
bus to play with but I
noticed that he prefers to
touch and play with the cat.
This was rarely done during
my observations. I spoke to
Roshey mother about taking
advantage of those
teachable moments.
When I began my
observation Roshey did not
have any story books. His
parents got him a tablet
instead for his Christmas
gift.
Roshey’s parents take the
time to play with him but it
is not viewed as an
opportunity for him to
explore and learn.
According to Roshey’s
parent he likes to listen to
“Twinkle, Twinkle Little
Star” on his tablet.
Roshey is from a large
family. Consequently, he
spends a lot of time playing
with his may cousins.
Roshey’s da seems to enjoy
playing when them.
Yes, Roshey is meeting all
these developmental
milestones.
3
 familiar voice, searching for faces,
smiling, crawling to others,
vocalizing to get someone’s
attention, etc.
Parent responds with positive
reinforcement to the infant and
child’s increased social cues and
interactions
Parent comments on what their Yes, Roshey’s dad
infant or child likes or dislikes in explained that he prefers to
terms of social interactions play alone, does not like
crowds and is incredibly
quiet.

Alberta Home Visitation Network Association 4

Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide
03/09
 Appendix II
Home Visitation Parent-Child
Interaction Observation Checklist

The parent-child interaction screening checklist is to assist home visitors observe the
overall strengths and challenges of the parent-child relationship. Home visitors are
encouraged to use the following questions as a guideline for these observations.

1. Is the parent aware of the infant’s or child’s physical needs?

Yes ___No ___Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Roshey’s parents has done an exceptional job providing him with the things he needs.

2. Is the parent aware of potential safety issues with the infant or child?
Yes ___No ___Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Yes, I notice that Roshey’s mother follows him whenever he leaves her side. This is done
to ensure he is always safe. She finds this challenging because of her daily chores.
Therefore, she would often lock the doors to keep him within her sight,

3. Does the parent respond appropriately to the infant’s or child’s physical need?
Responding appropriately means being able to match a parenting response to what the
infant or child needs.

__Yes ___No Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Sometimes, there is a delay Roshey’s parents’ response to his needs. Normally, this delay
occurs if the mother is tired or trying to cook before her husband gets home for lunch.

Alberta Home Visitation Network Association 5

Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide
03/09
 Appendix II (cont’d)

Home Visitation Parent-Child

Interaction Observation Checklist

4. Does the parent show warmth, sensitivity, and acceptance towards the infant or child?
Yes ___No ___Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Overall Roshey’s parents are warm and sensitive towards him. I spoke to Roshey’s
maternal grandmother who told me that she has seen a change in his father’s behavior
after I spoke to him about shouting at him.

5. Does the parent perceive and accurately read the infant’s or child’s cues and
communication?
Yes ___No Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Roshey’s grandmother is doing a better job reading his cues and communication than his
parent.

6. Is the parent aware of the infant’s or child’s psychological needs?

Yes ___No ___Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Yes! Roshey lives in a safe warm environment, where he is provided with food, clean
water, and clothing.

7. Does the parent respond by reinforcing the infant’s or child’s exploration of the world
of objects?
___Yes No __ Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

I did not observe Roshey’s parent reinforcing exploration of the world or objects. His
parents allow him to explore but they do not use his exploration as an opportunity to
stimulate brain development.

Alberta Home Visitation Network Association 6

Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide
03/09
 Appendix II (cont’d)

Home Visitation Parent-Child

Interaction Observation Checklist

8. Is the parent able to delay personal needs to respond to the infant’s or child’s needs?
___Yes ___No Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Most of the time. I observed a delay in his mother’s response if she is watching a movie.

9. Is the parent able to invest emotional energy and sensitivity into the care of the infant
or child?
___Yes ___No Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Sometimes his parents seem impatient. However, his grandmother is always there to tell
them they need to be patient with him.

10. Is the parent able to tolerate frustration or confusion when caring for the infant or
child?
__Yes ___No Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Most of the time. His parents are normally frustrated when he refuses to stop crying.

11. Does the parent see the needs of the infant or child as separate from personal adult
needs?
Yes ___No ___Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Alberta Home Visitation Network Association 7

Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide
03/09
 Appendix II (cont’d)

Home Visitation Parent-Child

Interaction Observation Checklist

12. Does the parent take the time to understand the infant’s or child’s behavior in order to
offer support?
___Yes ___No Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

This is dependent on the parent’s mood. Roshey receives less support if they are
frustrated.

13. Does the parent initiate responses or actions that apply to the child’s needs?
Yes ___No ___Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

14. Is the parent preoccupied with other stressors?

Yes ___No ___Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Yes, Roshey’s mother lost her job a few months ago.

15. Is this parent possibly experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health
issues?
Yes ___No ___Occasionally

Comments: Strengths or Challenges

Roshey’s mother lost her job a few months ago. She is finding this stressful because now
the family is surviving on one salary.

Alberta Home Visitation Network Association 8

Parent-Child Interactions: A Home Visitor’s Guide
03/09