Observing Communication

I chose to watch a short 4 min and 27 sec conversation between a preschooler and her parents after her first day at preschool on YouTube. Here is the video clip.

I found the little girl poised, polite and cute, able to articulate and hold a conversation. Her parents were asking her questions which helped her to keep her conversation with them. In this week’s learning resource (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011) Lisa Kolbeck says, asking questions to children is important to help them move on in their thoughts and actions. We also notice how the parents were patient with the child. This approach, being receptive to what children are saying, and going slow is also important when communicating with a child in order for them to formulate their thoughts and bring it out in the way they intend. This not only helps them communicate their thoughts but also helps them feel respected and accepted for who they are and heard (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). This child definitely felt listened to and seen and therefore respected and accepted.

Though her parents did a good job in holding a conversation, I think they could have built it further. When they asked her how she got hurt, she begins to say by running and then the father quickly put in the words in her mouth, closing in her thoughts with his assumption that it was at recess while she was running. Had he not done that and remained quiet for her to come up with the reason she would have probably surprised him with what she mentions later in the conversation about trying to get the blue thing from the boy and running. We as adults need to learn to be quiet enough to let the children come to us with their thoughts and reasons and be open to surprises (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). I also agree with Lisa Kolbeck when she says we as adults need to be imaginative when talking to children instead of just interrogating children when trying to communicate with them. Because, children live in their imaginations. Here when the child talks about having read a book in the circle time or play with bricks the father could have been imaginative and got her to express further about the book she read or the construction she did with the bricks.

Doing this assignment makes me understand and reflect on the way I communicate with children in my class. I am more like the father who interrogates children and sometimes putting words in their mouth when trying to hold a conversation with them. Comparing the father and what I have learnt this week I realize I need to be patient with children, go slow, letting their thought come out of them by themselves. Children communicate in different ways and use their bodies in different ways to express themselves (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). I therefore, need to be more sensitive to these expressions so that I can pick up cues about how to communicate.

Sensitivity, respect, acceptance, reflective listening and providing the space for each child to be their unique self are the philosophy for communicating with young children (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).


Reference
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Communicating with Young Children. [Multimedia]. Strategies for working with diverse children. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Creating Affirming Environments

An environment that is rich in anti-bias materials, culturally consistent for the children and families it serves, accurate and non-stereotypical invites exploration and discovery and supports children’s social, physical, emotional and cognitive development. Therefore, if I would have a child care setting of my own, I would:

1. Ensure that every family feels welcomed and comfortable.  

a. I would have school/family handbook which would be translated to languages other than English to include all the families. The aim of this handbook would be to familiarize every family about our philosophy and the various activities in our program. This is important for families to feel part of the program.

b. I would have a comfortable place at the entrance with seating area and coffee, tea and biscuits made available so that parents feel comfortable to sit and chat with the teachers, where teachers would be able to understand the needs of the family and family would be able to express their area of concern and what they would like for the teacher to focus. It would also give rise to opportunities for families to interact with other parents. This would help develop relationships not just between families and teachers but between the families and thus help bring communities together. 

c. Unlike the center where I currently work where parents are not allowed to come into the classroom to pick up or leave their children and is asked to hand over their child to the assistants at the main entrance, I would make the classroom accessible to all parents so that they can come and be partner with us, be a part of our teaching environment. This would help families to know what we do, the culture of our classroom, and who the other children and families are.

2. Ensure that every child feels welcomed and comfortable.

a. I would have a place set up where children can make their transition from home to the learning place. I have realized from my learning that it is important that we do not stop the children crying, but that children must on their own make that transition. This is very important especially for a child who is new to the program. Those who are already used to the routine blend in without any effort. While for those who are new it takes the appropriate environment, attention and effort. Therefore, a bed with cushions, books, dolls, and small toys and music can make the child at ease.

b. I would also have the parent spend some time with the child in the classroom so that the child would feel comfortable and safe to explore.

3. Ensure that the visual and material environment reflects the different cultures especially of those in the center.

a. I would have wall hangings such as posters; bulletin boards and other art reflect the children’s home cultures.

b. In order to ensure that every child feel safe, nurtured and included, I would have anti-bias materials in every learning areas. Role play area, construction and art areas would have materials that would provide critical thinking and diverse learning experience like cloths and toys reflecting different children’s backgrounds, dolls and figurines with different body types, race and gender, paints and colors of all skin tones and blocks and Lego’s with nonsterotypical photos on the wall. This is important since when children play they recreate life and learn to work together.

c. I would have an area where families could share their culture. I would even like to invite families who are willing to share part of their culture with us in the classroom. Either they could bring in home cooked food item or play an instrument or showcase their photo album, and thus share their culture. This would help connect different cultures.

Relationships, interactions with children and families, together with the visual and material environment and daily curriculum would help create a learning community that truly nurtures and supports all children in my learning center.