Explain why effective communication is important in developing positive relationships with children, young people and adults.
Communication is something we learn to do from birth. A baby will communicate with its parent or carer mainly by crying to alert them to the fact that they are hungry, tired, need changing etc.
As we get older we learn many different ways of communicating, however sometimes what we are trying to get across to the other person can be lost in translation and that is why effective communication is important.
There are two types of communication, verbal and non-verbal. Examples of verbal include face to face talking, talking on the phone, shouting and speaking quietly. Non-verbal communication includes pictures, body language and facial expression.
Good communication is important when working with children, young people and parents/carers. It involves listening, questioning and responding to what is being said by them..
It is important to be able to communicate on a one to one basis and in a group. Communication is a two way process and it is not just about the words you use, but also your manner of speaking, body language and how you listen.
We also need to use clear and simple communication, especially when talking to young children. For example when we ask a child do something we need to ensure that it is clear what is expected of them. In this instance it helps greatly if you get down to the child’s level, being towered over by someone can be very intimidating. By doing this you can engage in eye contact with the child and this, together with the tone of your voice, can help get across exactly what is being requested of the child. It can also help to ask the child to repeat back you what has been asked of them to ensure that they fully understand.
Effective communication is not just about speaking and listening. It is also about watching and feeling. Our body language and tone of voice actually communicate...