This study aims to describe a method created to observe children of the street in their natural environment. The development of these children, the meaning and the utilization of street space, and methodological aspects were considered. The results are presented in a manual elaborated to codify the daily activities of the observed children. The discussion emphasizes that observational, exploratory and descriptive studies are essential to validate the process of creative specific methodologies to understand and analyze human development at risk situations. In addition, the study shows the applicability of the method for a resulting knowledge to the field of developmental psychology.
Children in street situation; natural observation; ecological approach