Communication is an important part of any child’s development. The better and more often your child can communicate, the more likely they will be able to convey their needs and emotions to you. When they are unable to properly convey their feelings, thoughts, and needs, they may end up acting out, may become disruptive, or even take that frustration out on themselves. It is essential to guide children so they learn how to better communicate with you, and their peers.
Getting a child to open up can sometimes be difficult. Pressing the child with questions is counterproductive as it triggers their self defence mechanism. When the child does not open up, they are more difficult to teach and learning opportunities diminish.
- Ensure you are always attentive:
Letting the child speak, listening to them, and reflecting what they say back to them allows the child to understand that they can speak openly and safely in the company of people who are willing to listen to them without pressure or judgement. - Making yourself available:
Create a safety zone to help build trust. Since children do not have daily agenda for themselves, this allows you to be there when the child is comfortable enough to open up of their own. Trying to make children talk on the parent’s or the educator’s schedule can often have the opposite effect. - Talk while the child is engaged in an activity:
Children who are engaged in an activity have shown a willingness to speak and open up more as they are distracted with an activity. This can be when they are drawing, painting, or solving a puzzle. It provides a way for them to speak up without feeling directly confronted and forced.
In order to create that safe zone for your child to open up to you will require patience, compassion, and a solid understanding of child psychology.
Join us at College of Allied Educators to see how you can develop an understanding of the different types of exceptional children, their needs, and the different special needs programmes and specialities that are available to you, for them.
CAE’s 12-month Advanced Diploma in Special Education course trains educators and parents in the identification, diagnosis and treatment of these needs and the basic principles and practices of effective teaching and learning. The programme is highly practice-oriented to ensure that what you learn in class can be applied to children with special needs under your charge.
CAE’s Diploma in Learning Disorders Management & Child Psychology programme is designed specifically to train potential teachers, parents and caregivers to identify, detect and support children with special needs, such as Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia.
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