Communicating with Children

Know why communication is important to child development.

Additional details

Some examples of how communication supports development includes:

• new vocabulary
• develop listening skills
• encourage reading skills
• talk in simple and complex sentences
• encourage conversation and its protocols
• ask and answer questions

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1

  Outline ways in which adults’ communicating with children can support children’s development.

Know the elements of communication that are used in communicating with children.

Examples of how adults communicate with children may include:

• shifting their position to make eye contact with the child
• modifying the use of vocabulary to meet the situation but understanding that children love using long complicated words
• taking time to listen and be interested
• ask appropriate and possibly challenging questions

Adults need to use effective listening when encouraging children to talk. This can include the use of:

• verbal prompts
• appropriate body language
• relevant questioning

The examples given above are indicative. Tutors and learners may suggest others that are equally valid.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1

  Identify the elements of verbal and non verbal communication used when communicating with children.

• 2.2

  Describe ways in which adult communication with children differs from communication between adults.

• 2.3

  Describe ways in which adult communication with children is different for different age groups.

Understand listening skills required to communicate effectively with children.

Additional details

Listening to a child can help the adult assess their stage of development. For example they can understand how the child is feeling and what they are thinking. It also gives the adult the opportunity to assess their knowledge and depth of vocabulary, their understanding of concepts and ideas, their ability to problem solve. These are just some examples. The tutor will identify examples that are relevant to their own learner's situation and experience.

When listening to children the following may be considered:

• the environment e.g. sounds, distractions
• one-to-one or a small group
• face-to-face
• use of body language to encourage the child to continue talking and acknowledge that the adult is listening and values what they are saying

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1

  Identify the benefits of adults listening to children.

• 3.2

  Describe how to actively listen to children.

• 3.3

  Give examples of ways to acknowledge children’s feelings and needs when listening to children.

Know how to ask appropriate questions when communicating with children.

Additional details

The learner needs to understand the different between open and closed questions for this learning outcome. Practical examples will help with this understanding. Learners can be encouraged to listen to each other when asking questions to identify situations where we use open and closed questions.

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1

  Give examples of situations when closed questions are appropriate when communicating with children.

• 4.2

  Give examples of situations when open questions may be appropriate when communicating with children.