Observing Communication

Observing others is a very powerful tool. It allows you to recognize positive and negative outcomes of situations. This week, I observed a mother and daughter communicating at a park. The daughter appeared to be around 2 years old. The mother asked the child various questions such as, "Do you want to walk over here? Do you want to play on the swing? Are you having fun? Are you too hot?" The child responded by shaking her head either yes or no while running around her mother laughing and playing. She seemed very happy and safe while interacting with her mother. The mother would smile whenever she talked to her and the child smiled back.

What I noticed and learned about their communication was that the child was engaged with the conversation because the adult's body language was positive. One of the connections I made between my observation and the learning resources was that asking young children questions makes for effective communication strategies. However, the communication would have been more effective if the mother had asked questions that require more than one word answers. Questions that promote children's thinking require children to think beyond one word responses to make connections, compare, and hypothesize (Rainer Dangei and Durden, 2010, p. 78).  Another connection I noticed is that adults should talk to children directly. A behavior that help you give the baby clear messages include speaking directly to the baby (Kovach and Da Ros-Voseles, 2011).

I believe the communication that I observed influenced the child's self worth a great deal. The child more than likely felt appreciated because of the attention she was receiving. This observation also compares to the way I communicate with children because I often ask children questions to challenge their thinking. I ask questions in a positive manner so that they will feel comfortable answering them. Further, I have learned that my communication with children is fair but it could be better. In one of the readings, I have learned that acknowledging the child's name and talking to them before touching them should be considered (Kovach and Da Ros-Voseles, 2011). I will definitely use these insights to improve my communication with young children.

                                                                      References

Kovach, B., & Da Ros-Voseles, D. (2011). Communicating with babies. YC: Young Children, 66(2), 48-50.

Rainer Dangei, J., & Durden, T. R. (2010). The nature of teacher talk during small group activities. YC: Young Children, 65(1), 74-81. 

An Affirming Environment

If I had my own Family Child Care Home, I would make sure that all families feel welcome. First, I liked the idea that Adriana greeted the children and their families outside of the home. Many child care centers and homes that I have been to do not greet their children outside. By using this idea in my setting, I believe the families will feel welcome, wanted, and appreciated. In addition, I also liked how Adriana used a poster of the families titled, "Our Family Community," (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). The children will feel comfortable if they saw images of their loved ones in the home. I think this will really help the children transition as they leave their families and will also show them pictures of other families.

I will also create personalized books of the children and their families. Books can focus on a theme ('We All Have Families: Our Families are different," (Derman-Sparks and Edwards, 2010, p. 45). I believe this will grasp the children's attention as they will discover images of themselves and their families inside of a book. I will make sure that the books are very colorful because it amazes young children. 


                                                                       References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and                               ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).   

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an anti-bias            learning community. Baltimore, MD: Author