On Tuesday, January 21, I observed one of me neighbor and her little girl as they communicated with each. She is a stay at home mom, married, with two children and three grandchildren. Her youngest child is three years old and will be starting day care this summer. I observed the mother as she teaches her child how to say and recognize her ABC's. The mother would write letters of the alphabets on paper and have the child to show her the different letters. I noticed the child being very quiet and well manner to be a three year old. She asked and answered questions pertaining to the alphabets just like a big girl. Sometimes, we should just listen, be calm, show interest and not make assumptions or judgments about young children (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). She did not ignore, turn her head, talk loud or ran around doing studying time. They both communicated with each other better than some teachers I have seen communicating with students. The mother strategy was that they will study before having lunch, and she will give candy for a snack.
The connection the mother had with her daughter was great. They communicated well and efficient throughout their studying. I can tell she had experience working with her child for a long time. According to Lisa Kolbeck the experience working with children, the way I know a child is to see their play, and the way I can find out about their play is to first watch them, and then ask them questions about where they are in their play-mind (Laureate Education, 2010).
When observing the mother and her child, I did not see any problems with the way they communicated with each other. The communication I observe did not affect the child’s feelings. The child’s mother made her feel confident in what she was doing. The mother praised the child even when she made a mistake, and her to repeat them again. I think the mother had a plan to organize and combine information together so that her child can succeed in school. Words are symbolic a sign used to represent a person, idea or thing (O’Hair, Wiemann, 2012).
As young children find their identity, they have the ambition to learn, so it is important for educators to separate diversity, subjectivity, and uncertainty from the learning environment. Unless adults guide their young children the right way, they can develop negative reactions from being around people who behave in unfamiliar ways. (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010) Listening and communicating with all young children is essential in the early childhood field. There should be no bias or prejudice shown toward a person’s identity, which consisted of different language, race, gender, religion, family structure, morals, abilities, disabilities, ethnicity and sexual orientation (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).
References
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
"Communicating with Young Children" (Laureate Education, 2011). Retrieved from http://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_419753
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's
Ida,
ReplyDeleteHow important is to observed how children play, I agree with you that is a good way to know and understand to children. You said"According to Lisa Kolbeck the experience working with children, the way I know a child is to see their play, and the way I can find out about their play is to first watch them, and then ask them questions about where they are in their play-mind (Laureate Education, 2010).
good post!
maria
Colleague Ida:
ReplyDeleteThank you for a very thorough post. I must say that the idea that I have hidden in my heart for future use is the clearing of the learning environment of all negative ideas, biases and prejudices and to fill the atmosphere with care, respect,sympathy and good listening skills.
Thank you for your powerful post!
Sharon Munroe.