The Importance Of Effective Communication In Young Children

Effective communication is a vital starting point for any relationship, whether it is for children young people or adults, as no relationship can begin from silence. Practitioners need to model the positive and effective ways of communication depending on who they are interacting with. The way we communicate with these different groups can be varied but the underlying principles remain the same. Nevertheless, how we communicate does depend on the person; whether it is child-to-child or adult-to-adult or a mixed combination, the style needs to be adapted accordingly.
We communicate in a number of ways: The way we speak, body language, tone of voice, facial expression, gestures and so on. The way we communicate initially forms the foundation
of the relationship, therefore it is essential to begin positively as it illustrates our character.
Effective communication will strengthen the childrenâ€TMs confidence and give them a sense of belonging which will help maintain and strengthen relationships with teachers and fellow students
Children
In order to learn effectively children need to feel secure, relaxed and confident, being in the presence of someone that they feel they have a good relationship with will create a positive atmosphere for learning in; one of the most practical and mutually rewarding ways to do this is through effective communication i.e. talking and listening. Building trust is very important when working with children. It is important for children to understand effective communication from an early age so they can build their understanding of how it works, in order for it to become a norm in their lives. Adults need to ensure that they are always encouraging them to ask questions and suggest ideas for example praising them for putting their hands up in class. Children are at that
tender age where they rely on adults to protect them and often expect a motherly touch especially earlier on in the education system. This will be the basis of trust. One method that is effective when communicating with children is to find out what the child likes and dislikes this will give you a ground to work from, also these factors can relate to the child and make it more personal allowing the child to also benefit from this as they learn about themselves and the world around them. With young children it helps to use simple vocabulary so they understand as children are more likely to be interested when they can relate to it and understand what is being said or asked of them. Active listening is a key skill to effective communication as not listening to each other causes a breakdown in communication and possibly resulting negative relationships. You need to show that you are interested and paying attention to what is being said. Use a lot of eye contact and make it personal between you and child by addressing the child by their name. This is a clear indication of a positive relationship as it could make children feel valued. Have a friendly approach to the children and through play try to learn and build a relationship, using different methods in different contexts and settings advancing their learning and understanding. The key to understanding the needs of children and young people and assisting them to work towards their needs is by effectively communicating with them hence why it is so important.
Young people
As children grow older, the way we approach them to build a positive relationship also changes as we adopt accordingly treating each person as an individual. All children love to be praised and to be recognised for their good behaviour or work. In fact irrespective of age everyone appreciates praise, approval, appreciation and respect by other peers. We should always use positive statements and encourage young people to get involved and participate which will most likely boost young people's confidence and self-esteem levels. This will have an effect on a young person as they are growing up. Always use encouraging and positive vocabulary to tell young personâ€TMs what they need to do instead of pointing out what they cannot do. Young people need to feel that adults are on their side and not against them for example when speaking to a young person the adult should sit next to them and explain so the giving and receiving of information is equal as oppose to standing over them telling them to do something, as this shows that the adult has ultimate power leaving very little control in the hands of the young person. This encourages one to speak out loud especially if they have concerns that they may wish to discuss with adults. Moreover, when talking to children young people are likely to copy this approach. Young people always pick up on positive behaviour and comments - boosting their confidence helping them to build and maintain good communication.
Adults
Communicating with adults is surprisingly very similar to communicating with children and young people.
Good communication is the basis of good relationships. Adults need to demonstrate positive relationships with each other so children and young people can imitate this behavior therefore, adults must always be aware of their audience. This helps children to understand what is expected and more importantly acceptable in relationship building. With adults your views are likely to differ so occasionally their maybe disagreements but these should not have an effect on the overall learning environment. For example, a highly heated debate may result in angry faces, shouting and so on but adults must refrain from these actions and use positive communication in order to demonstrate positive behaviours which will show that you are approachable and committed as oppose to scaring the children or young people and even showing yourself up in front of other adults. Within the working environment, it is merely a bonus if colleagues become friends; however a good working relationship is priority. When communicating with adults you need to communicate in a polite and courteous
manner.