Explain The Importance Of Effective Communication With Children

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Building positive relationships with children or young people requires us to be adaptable in our approach when communicating. We need to consider our behaviour with each individual or group, ensuring we maintain positive interactions. Regardless of age, ability or background, children need to feel secure and valued as part of their school community.
There are certain adaptations we should consider so that communications continue to be positive: Communications with children or young people will be different based on their age. We wouldnâ€TMt speak to a 4 year old in the same way as we might do with an 11 year old. We would need to adjust our choice of vocabulary so that the child understood what was being said. Younger children who are new
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We can use this opportunity to speak with children in a more relaxed manner, showing a more playful or humorous side. This gives children an opportunity to see a different side to their teaching staff whilst still maintaining a good, positive and respectful relationship.
We should ensure that children with special education needs and/or speech and language difficulties are treated with care and sensitivity. We need to adapt the way in which we communicate with these children according to their individual needs. Children should feel unpressured when talking and be allowed to take their time to get their point across. They may be anxious or nervous when speaking and will be aware that they canâ€TMt communicate as effectively as others. This can often lead to them retreating from activities through lack of confidence as they put pressure on themselves to be understood.
We must resist the temptation to fill in words or speak for them as this can lead to more distress if the child feels they are not being heard
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Pictures and symbols can both be used to make written information accessible and to support language. For example, pictures of different facial expressions can be used to support children and young people to say what they like or donâ€TMt like in pictorial questionnaires.
I found the use of smiley faces really helpful when I was asked to support an SEN child in Year 3 one morning. She has behavioral/attachment issues & a tendency to explode into uncontrollable rages. Before we went into class, I sat down with her & showed her a wipeboard onto which I had drawn a happy face, a sad face, an angry face, a confused face & a blank face. I asked her which face she was today. As soon as she saw this, her face lit up & she pointed at the smiley face & drew a tongue sticking out of the mouth. I smiled & said “I see you are feeling happy today! Why have you drawn a tongue sticking out?― to which she replied “because sticky out tongues make me laugh when Iâ€TMm happy―. We walked calmly into class & her morning was productive & we had not behavioural issues. This made me realize that there is no one set way children and young people communicate or one set approach. Using a variety of