The observational role at the time of Covid-19. Experiences and reflections from observation students in northern Italy

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article relates the experience of interruption to the infant observations of five student observers in AIPPI, Milan, due to the health emergency caused by Covid-19. It goes on to describe the resumption of observation by means of video-observations and, later, observations in person by observers-in-masks. The new ‘meeting’ of the families required great efforts from the students in finding an internal and external ‘relocation’ of the observer position. It also required working through the great frustration caused by the interruption. In parallel, the observed families also had to adjust to the new mode of meeting and had to take up a new position, usually more active, in handling the essential equipment for video connection. Last but not least, adaptation was required of the babies, who found creative, subjective and, at times, distressing ways to relocate themselves and to try to approach the observers. Despite the difficulties, all five of the observations were completed and, according to the observers it proved possible to be in touch with the babies’ internal worlds and to observe their growth and development up to two years of age, despite the unusual and ‘ground-breaking’ modes adopted.