Observing Communication

I went to a nearby park this week, and there were some stay home mothers watching their kids play. The kids were playing running, jumping, climbing and rough playing,  when suddenly one of the kids ran to the mother to say the other kid was being mean to him. The mother asked “Why is Peter being mean to you?” The kid says “I don’t know but I wanted to use that swing and he won’t let me.” The mother then said “Why don’t you go to the other slide and play when Peter is done with the swing you can go use it.” And the boy said “No” and insisted he wanted just that swing.  Then the  mother told him  he needed to be also considerate and  asked him   “If you were using the swing and another kid came and wanted to use it when you were not done would you  give it up?”  Interestingly, he shook his head and kept crying. However, he was pacified and the mom took him to the other swing meant for children his age and helped push him to and fro.

 From watching the moms and the kids it was evident to see the use of questionings and scaffolding with children to make them reason and think critically as well as enable them to develop morally and socially as they learn to empathize with others. The moms listened when the kids came with  petty complains  and problems which was indicative that their complains was  important;  and as  indicated by Eric Hoffman and Lisa Kolbeck   in their communication with the children (Laureate Education, Inc.2011),  listening to children  makes them  feel valued and  loved.  The play environment was safe and secured as the children trusted the protection from their parents and hence the confidence to go with numerous complains to their  moms because of the trust and bond they share. 

There was a lot of redirecting, correcting, and listening to children thus acknowledging that children have a voice of their own, and should be listened to as a means of taking them seriously. The moms’ use of simple words, short sentences and the relevance of body language were noticeable.  In particular, the gentle touch and kiss one of the moms gave her little son to pacify him confirmed another method of affirming communication with children (Rainer & Durden, 2010; Kovach & Da Ros-Voseles, 2011). In all during my observation, I was impressed that the children’s self worth was considered through the interactions and communication between the moms and their children.  It takes a lot of patience to listen, redirect, correct, and question; but  with purpose in mind  of helping them develop socially ,emotionally, and cognitively it is worth the effort.

 

 

References

         Rainer Dangei, J., & Durden, T. R. (2010). The nature of teacher talk during small group activities. YC: Young Children, 65(1), 74-81. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database

          Kovach, B., & Da Ros-Voseles, D. (2011). Communicating with babies. YC: Young Children, 66(2), 48-50. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011).EDUC 6358: Strategies for Working with Diverse Children [Webcast]. In “"Communicating with Young Children"” Retrieved from http://www.courseurl.com

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011).EDUC 6358: Strategies  for Working with Diverse Children [Webcast]. In “ Persona Dolls” Retrieved from http://www.courseurl.com