Classification: Low
Child: Malcom
Date:May 6, 2006
Age:5 years
Time: 9:00 am – 8:45 pm
People present in home: Mom (hearing), Dad (hearing), Darius (age 3), Sister (7 months)
All communication throughout the day takes place using spoken English, occasionally supported by signs.
Early Morning
9:00 am:
I arrive at family home. Television is on and all children are awake. Malcom is lying on couch with pillow and stuffed dog. His brother is nearby.
Boys are watching TV (Nicklodeon),
Mom: What do you want for breakfast? (Question-adult)
Malcom: Eggs and (CL-1 rectangle).
Mom: You want eggs and French toast.
Boys watch TV as Mom makes breakfast, Sister lays on floor in living room.
9:05 am:
(Mealtime)
Mom is cooking bacon as the boys enter the kitchen for breakfast. They eat blueberry waffles. Mom and the two boys are in the kitchen. As the boys eat their waffles, Mom continues cooking bacon. Malcom tells me about going to the park today. Darius picks up a dinosaur on the table. Malcom (signing) and Darius (voicing with gestures) tell me about the dinosaur possibly being received by one of them as a birthday gift.
9:20 am:
Malcom looks at a paperback sign book (consisting primarily of letters and numbers. Darius gestures to my notebook and “asks” about what I’m doing. I tell him that I will be watching him and his family today and writing down what everyone is doing.
9:25 am:
Boys run around living room, Mom tells them to go get dressed.
9:30 am:
Darius brings me a small yellow pad. Both boys go into bedroom. Overhear boys yelling in bedroom (incomprehensible). Dad enters the room.
Dad: What’s going on? (Question-adult)
9:35 am:
Boys come out of bedroom (not dressed yet). Malcom is carrying a large black crate, he puts his dog on the floor and covers it with the crate (to create a cage). Mom tells Malcom to go find something to play with such as his videogames.
9:40 am:
Boys are in bedroom. Television is on (Lilo and Stitch), boys watch television for a few minutes, then play with the black crate taking turns getting inside of it.
9:45 am:
Boys are watching Lilo and Stitch on television. While doing this, Malcom begins jumping on his bed. Dad comes and tells him to stop.
Parents comment on how the boys seem to be showing off due to the presence of a visitor. Dad takes boys out of room and gets them focused on an activity, drawing at the kitchen table.
9:50 am:
Boys are in kitchen drawing with markers on colored construction paper. Malcom draws an ice cream truck. On a separate paper Malcom writes the names of the people in his family. He writes vertically down the page Mom, [variation of last name], Dariusand Malcom. Upon request, Dad writes out Darius’s name. Below each name Malcom draws happy faces in sets of 4, 2, 4, and 2. He then points to the two rows of 4 and shows me that they are the same. He does the same for the two rows of 2. (Shared activity)
10:00 am:
Boys continue drawing until around 10:12 am. Malcom draws a combination of pictures, words, and numbers.
10:20 am:
Malcom goes into back room (office/sister’s bedroom) to play on computer. (Independent activity) Sister is sleeping in here. Mom explains to me that only Malcom is allowed in the room while hissister is sleeping. He is more likely to stay quiet than Darius. Malcom plays a “Powerpuffs Girls” game on the computer.
Mom tells Darius to go get his number puzzle. Darius goes to his room and returns to the living room with a winter hat full of numbers and a frame for the number puzzle. He puts the puzzle together. A few numbers are missing and he has one extra 5. Mom tells him that that must be left from his old number puzzle.
10:42 am:
Mom checks on Malcom playing on computer. Mom tells me that Malcom learned how to play the computer games on his own.
10:50 am:
Malcom picks up an envelope near the computer and writes on it. He reads his writing to me (a series of letters and ILY together).
Malcom: Outside? (Question-child)
Mom: (repeating) You want to go out? (Question-adult) (He doesn’t go out)
Frogger Nintendo game is found.
Late Morning
11:10 am:
Boys engage in physical play, wrestling.
11:15 am:
Dad offers to take boys to the park (park is down the block) to shoot hoops. The boys get dressed.
Mom: Do you want to bring your hearing aids? (holding the hearing aids) (Question-adult)
Malcom: No, grandma, grandpa (interpreted by mom to mean that he will bring them to grandma and grandpa’s house- the kids will be staying with grandma and grandpa when mom and dad go on vacation later this week.)
11:25 am:
Dad takes boys out to the park. Dad gets Darius started on the swing and then goes to basketball court to shoot hoops with Malcom. While playing with Malcom Dad tells me about an HBO special he saw about a deaf college where they had a basketball team. He says that “maybe there is hope” for Malcom. (Shared activity)
11:35 am:
Both boys play on monkey bars. Malcom steps on Darius. Darius cries.
Malcom: We need to share, I’m climbing.
Dad: Did you hit him.
Malcom points to his shoe. Dad tells Darius that it was an accident.
11:50 am:
Both boys are on swings. Dad tellsDarius that he needs to move his legs like Malcom is doing. Dad tells me that Malcom catches on quick. Dad says that his signing is not that good so he has to show him what he means.
Dad and the two boys go back up to the basketball court. There is an empty soda can and water bottle on the ground. Malcom picks it up and smells it. Dad turns around and notices Malcom holding the two containers.
Dad: Did you just drink that?(Question-adult) (takes the containers from Malcom and throws them over the fence.)
The three shoot hoops for awhile then Malcom heads towards his bike and Dad decides that it’s time to leave. Darius asks “Done?” Dad responds that they are done but will come back later.
Early Afternoon
12:00 pm:
Malcom gets on bike to ride back home.
Dad: Watch for cars. (yelled to Malcom’s back)
Dad walks with Darius.
Dad: What do we do when we cross the street?
Darius: Look
12:10 pm:
(Mealtime)
Back in house, Mom has made grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch. Mom, the two boys and I sit in the kitchen to eat. While eating, the boys tell Mom about their trip to the park. Mom asks questions that the boys answer.
Mom: (to Darius) Did you go on the slide? (Question-adult)
Mom: (to Malcom) Did you shoot hoops? (Question-adult)
Malcom: (gestured) I almost made a basket.
Dad: He’s definitely getting stronger.
Mom: Did you play on the swings? (Question-adult)
Darius: Yes
Mom: Did you play on the monkeybars? (Question-adult)
Darius: Yes
Conversation then shifts to an upcoming trip to Grandma and Grandpa’s house.
12:20 pm:
Malcom plays on computer. (Independent activity) While switching games he comes across a bunch of cereal boxes on the Kellogg’s website ( and counts them. Malcom seems to know a variety of games. He switches between games ( and seems to know how to play them all. A variety of words come up on screen related to game play: “Get ready” “Success” “Failure.” Malcom signs DARN when “failure” comes up while playing “Dark Knight.” When directions come up Malcom looks at them for a few seconds before moving on.
12:40 pm:
Darius joins us in computer room. Malcom is playing “The Joker and Two Face.” Darius chats with me signing that his pants and mine are the SAME (we’re both wearing jeans) but Malcom’s are DIFFERENT (his pants are tan). Darius pulls a chair over to watch the game.
12:45 pm:
Mom gives Malcom ice pops, asks him what color he wants. Malcom takes a yellow one and gives a blue one to his brother in their bedroom. Both boys watch Lilo and Stitch on bedroom television.
Mom: The paper from the ice goes in the trash (trash signed)
Malcom:(teasing) I’ll put it under the bed.
12:50 pm:
Mom calls the boys into the living room to watch a movie (The Adams Family). Malcom tells his Mom that the guy’s face (Fester) looks likes it was punched together.
1:00 pm:
Watching movie, Darius is on Mom’s lap on one end of the couch, Malcom is curled up on the other end.
1:15 pm:
Movie ends and a Buzz Lightyear cartoon comes on. Malcom moves closer to Mom and tries to sit on her lap but there isn’t room. Mom asks Malcom to turn off the television in the bedroom. He doesn’t. Darius jumps off Mom’s lap and goes to turn off television. Malcom crawls on Mom’s lap. Darius comes back and cries pointing to Mom’s lap. Mom shifts her position to make room for both kids.
1:25 pm:
A commercial for Jetix comes on. Mom says that’s Malcom’s favorite, it’s like the Power Rangers.
1:30 pm:
Mom brings in a pillow and encourages Darius to take a nap, “You’ll be wired this evening if you don’t sleep.” Darius lays down on couch. Malcom watches the Proud Family.
1:35 pm:
Malcom goes to play on the computer and beckons me in to watch. Malcom brings up Batman game. The directions come up. Malcom looks at me. I read the directions for him.
1:50 pm:
Malcom plays Tom and Jerry, Powerpuff Girls, and Scooby Doo. Some of the games come up in Spanish. (Independent activity)
2:10 pm:
Malcom plays Puffy Amiyumi on computer. (Independent activity)
2:20 pm:
Malcom goes to find Mom. He asks her to help him find numbers 6-10 in the computer game. Mom tells him he has to wait because she has to feed the baby.
2:30 pm:
Malcom and Mom play the computer game. Mom gives Malcom directions such as “go here,” “go there.” Mom asks Malcom if he wants to share some popcorn. Malcom says yes. (Shared activity)
2:40 pm: Malcom tells me he is going to get some popcorn but that I should stay at the computer and play.
2:50 pm:
Malcom plays “Totally Spies” on the computer. (Independent activity)
Late Afternoon
3:00 pm:
Mom and Malcom play Frogger on Nintendo. (Shared activity)
3:40 pm:
Malcom asks Mom if he can put a DVD in. Mom says yes. Malcom puts on Hoodwinked.
3:50 pm:
Malcom tells Mom that he wants to go play on the computer. Mom says no, he’s had enough computer. Malcom begins to play with Sister’s walker.
Mom: No, watch the movie or go play.
Malcom goes to his bedroom where Dad is playing basketball on Nintendo. He joins the game. Dad says the game is more complicated than the games Malcom usually plays. Dad helps Malcom with the game by giving him directions such as “do this, go this way.” (Shared activity)
4:15 pm:
Malcom tells Dad that he wants to play against him in the Basketball game. Mom and Dad discuss this. Mom encourages him to try it. Dad says it’s too complicated. They decide to try it.
4:20 pm:
Darius comes into the room with a bowl of chips. Malcom takes one from Darius’s bowl. Darius: Hey! (smacks his brother on the head)
Malcom smacks Darius.
Darius: He hit me!
Dad: Well you hit him
Malcom: No more
Darius: No more
4:30 pm:
Dad and Malcom play Nintendo game “Driver.” (Shared activity) Dad says he needs to do laundry, he leaves the room. Malcom continues playing.
4:40 pm:
Malcom takes off his sweatshirt and drops it on the floor. He starts a game with a stuffed dog and lamb throwing them up to hit the ceiling and attempting to catch them.
4:50 pm:
Malcom notices Dad outside smoking, he goes outside to join him. Darius says he wants to go out too. Mom says no because he doesn’t have his shirt or shoes on, “you know the rules.” Besides, Malcom will be back inside soon. Malcom comes inside and goes into his room to play Nintendo until 5:10.
5:10 pm:
Malcom: (to Darius) Let’s jump on the bed.
Mom enters the room
Mom: No.
5:15 pm:
Dad and Malcom engage in a physical play game. (Shared activity) Dad holds Malcom (arms behind his back), while Malcom tries to get free. Malcom laughs, this appears to be a familiar game. Malcom gets free and wrestles with Darius, the two carry the wrestling game into their bedroom. Overhear yelling in the bedroom. Dad goes in and says “no!” Each brother is “timed-out” – each has to stay on his own bed. They turn the bedroom television on.
5:25 pm:
Malcom plays Nintendo Basketball game. (Independent activity)
5:45 pm:
Malcom playing Nintendo, Mom is cooking dinner. (Independent activity)
Evening
(Mealtime)
6:10 pm:
Two brothers, Mom and me sit at table to eat dinner. Dad says he’ll eat in the living room. He’s watching a game and holding the baby.
Dinner plates are different colors. Malcom insists that I should have the white one (the plate next to his). Darius says that he wants that one. The two argue about it. Mom says that the green one is nice and sets that one up for me on other side of table. Malcom moves his plate next to my green one. During dinner, Malcom talks (gestures/signs) about Grandma’s house and how he could dive into the lake from the dock (as understood through mom’s interpretation). Mom says that she is surprised that he remembers that, it was last summer.
Malcom finishes his rice
Malcom: More (signed)
Mom: Can you say more? (Question-adult)
Malcom calls to Dad in other room. Dad does not respond, Darius “helps” by yelling “Dad!”
6:30 pm:
Malcom plays Nintendo.
6:45 pm:
Mom comes into bedroom and asks Malcom if he wants to paint. Malcom says yes. They go into the kitchen. Table is set up with paints, colored paper and arts and crafts materials. Mom, Darius and Malcom all paint. Mom creates a creature with feathers, paint and pom poms on a popsicle stick. Darius looks at it and begins to make one. Mom helps him by working the glue and placing items on stick. Malcom notices the creatures and decides to make one. He gets purple popsicle sticks and glues on feathers and pom poms. Mom says that they will need to get magnets so that they can hang them up. (Shared activity)
7:00 pm:
Darius hears an ice cream truck outside. Mom points the truck out to Malcom. Malcomlooks out window. He looks at Mom.
Malcom: Ice cream want? (Question-adult)
Mom: Ask Dad. Maybe tomorrow, if we hear it tomorrow.
7:05 pm:
Darius takes a bath. Malcom plays Nintendo.
7:30 pm:
Mom: Malcom, time for your bath (he is playing Driver)
Malcom: No, don’t want.
Mom: Look at your hand, dirty. (His hand is blue from the paint.).
Malcom: No, fine.
7:35 pm:
Malcom says he’ll take his bath now. He pauses the game.
8:00 pm:
Malcom comes out of the bath.
Malcom: Wants gummy worms.
Mom: Ask Dad. That’s his thing.
Malcom goes downstairs, comes up
Malcom: Says fine.
Dad comes up behind him and goes to get the candy for both boys. They eat their gummy worms in front of the television. Mom, Darius and Malcom watch Scooby Doo. Mom labels different sections of the program for Darius (Space, Dinosaur, Mummy, Carnival)
8:30 pm:
Malcom: Want Nintendo.
Mom: No.
Malcom goes into bedroom and puts on Nintendo. Mom goes into bedroom and takes the games. Malcom screams NO! He takes the TV remote and holds it while staring at mom. Looks like he wants to break it. Takes batteries out, throws them down. Takes pictures off wall.
Malcom: Want games!
Mom: No.
Malcom goes into the refrigerator and gets pepperoni.
Mom: Do you really need that? You ate, you had gummy worms.
Darius notices pepperoni HEY goes into refrigerator, takes remaining pepperoni. Malcom appears upset because Darius has more. NO! grabs it from Darius’s hand. Mom takes extra away telling Darius “No, One”. They eat their pepperoni on the couch.
8:45 pm: Mom tells Malcom to get his dog. It’s time for bed. Boys go into bedroom. Television on for “quiet time”
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