Laser Lessons - Lesson

Be able to communicate with children and young people

Table of Contents

In this tutorial you will learn:

How you interact with children.
About the four main skills when communicating with children.
It is essential to make sure that you respond appropriately to children and that you give them the opportunity to talk and be listened to.

Table of Contents

Find and read ‘How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk’ by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish, published by Picadilly Press. N.B. You should be able to find a copy at your local library service.
‘Communication friendly – checklist’ by ICAN. Click on the icon to the left to see a checklist, which can be used to check that the learning environment supports children’s communication.
Take time to make yourself familiar with various cultures, unique needs, dietary requirements, and special needs for each child in your room. Make a note of your findings and take some time to research them, using the internet, any books or leaflets at your setting or in the local library, the knowledge of your colleagues and, most importantly, the parents of the children themselves.
This article from the National Autistic Society is called ‘Understanding and developing communication’. It looks at communication differences can exist when interacting with an autistic individual.
Keep a communication diary on two different children in your group for a week. It would be helpful if the children were of different ages. Record who they communicate with - when and how. Do they make noises and gestures, or talk when no one is with them? Are people responding, including yourself, quickly and appropriately?