Verbal communication:
Tone and pitch of your voice is important, i.e. does it suit the situation? A louder more direct communication maybe required if trying to get the attention of a group of children to come back inside. However this would not be suitable in a situation whereby a child is upset say for example if they have wet themselves and are embarrassed, this would need a quieter and understanding tone to reassure them. You need to give the child time to respond to any questions or anything they wish to say, so making sure it is a two way conversation. This is where good listening skills are an advantage. The use of body language is also important, in delicate situation for instance, eye contact and bring yourself down to the child’s level and talk slower. Your hand and facial expressions are also important as these also show emotion and feeling. A child can tell the difference at a stern look compared to a smiling face.
Use of language is important, when talking to children you need to keep things simpler than if you were talking to an adult, however if you are talking to an adult using very simple instructions this may be deemed as patronising, so it is important to choose your language carefully. You will need to also consider the language spoken, the environment they are living in, i.e. live in a busy city or out in the rural country side.
City people will be more used to loud voices, to make sure their heard. Country people are more likely going to be used to a quieter