COMMUNICATION: HOW TO TALK WITH TODDLERS
May 19, 2021
- Take the conversation to your child’s level. Conversations can sometimes be above the younger children’s level of understanding; therefore, it is important to bring the conversation in line with a level they would understand.
- The way we talk to our kids has a significant impact on their learning and ability to listen to us. We are continually modelling to our children how to act and behave, and the way we talk to them fits right into this category. The way we speak to them and others is showing them how we want them to respond to us and others.
- Make conversation a priority with your children. This is especially important when there is more than one child in the house. Using language and vocabulary that is age appropriate is really important to mould a rich language environment for your child. It will also build confidence, self-esteem and good relationships.
- Tune in and listen to what the child says. It is important to be attentive and show your child that you are interested in what they are saying. This also model good behaviour and manners you would like to teach your child for future reference.
- Take turns talking. Showcase a conversation and respond age appropriately to what is said. Don’t interrupt. Don’t scold your kids when they are telling you a story. They will lose interest in sharing their feelings with you in future if you shift away from their story. Rather use this opportunity to engage with your child and use the content as a teaching moment. Remember the exchange are not only about words but about feelings, about paying attention to that little person’s story.
- Talk about what the child is doing, what the child is looking at, or what the child is interested in. Ask open-ended questions to develop curiosity. Adding words or questions to what the child says will model new language and enrich your child’s vocabulary.
- Ask questions that relate to the child’s experiences or interests. This will help develop critical thinking skills and give the child a moment to think about different scenarios and how to approach or react to it.
- Give the child enough time to respond. For children who do not have language yet or is shy in nature, this may be a nonverbal response, like a gesture or a look. Allow your child to find his/her voice.
- Some children find speaking and listening harder than others. They might find it hard to understand what words and sentences mean. Some struggle to find the right words and sounds to use and put them in order. So, be considerate and patient. You can use your child's imagination to your advantage by making a game out of telling funny stories or jokes. Ask them to tell you a joke or teach you about their favourite toy, which will require them to put their thoughts into words. But even if your child experiences some language delays, this doesn’t always indicate a serious problem. If you worried because they are not speaking, see an expert.
- During difficult times, it is always harder to remember to acknowledge your child, but if a child can hear anything during a temper tantrum, it reassures them to hear our recognition of their point-of-view. Most parents talk too much or use unclear language when they discipline a small child. Too many words and vague complaints only confuse and overwhelm them, so be prepared when speaking to your little one.
- Reading to your child as much as possible every day is one of the best things you can do to encourage language development, imagination development and creativity.
Why Consistency Between Home and School Matters Most
Every Student learns differently! Think about it like this; In the real world, we customize our coffee orders, hairstyles, our music playlists, and occasionally take our own clothes to the tailor to get a perfect fit in line with our our tastes. All this is done to provide the best customer service as well as for the customer to cherish it. So, why should our children’s educational journeys be treated differently? From time immemorial until now, the education system has evolved drastically from the former traditional teaching where the teacher was ‘ Mr. I know it All , where learners were just like passive passengers on an intellectual train to the current modern approach known as Personalized Learning. When put together, Personalized Learning’ means teachers provide targeted learning towards each student’s unique learning needs, interests, learning styles and modify their experiences. Personalized Learning ensures every lesson is resourceful, relevant and engaging with all students, which helps them grasp concepts taught more effectively leaving them with a touch of confidence in themselves. How Do Personalized Learning Approaches Support Different Learning Styles and Learner Progress? As educators at Gaborone International School, we understand that learning how our learners process information is not just beneficial to them, but it is a crucial part of our work to become excellent at our jobs and in ensuring every student succeeds in their academic journey. At GIS, we adopt these fou r famous and common learning styles for our learners: 1. Visual Learners These are learners who understand and remember things best when they see them. Thus, as teachers at GIS, we make use of PowerPoint Presentations, use information in diagrammatic form, images/pictures and videos while teaching our students. Our growing innovative techniques with digital equipment; for example, making use of projectors and iPads with learners has proven very helpful to these specific learners. 2. Auditory Learners : These learn best by hearing information and they remember spoken words. For these students, we make use of assigning group tasks to certain subtopics in a topic/question and once a set time is over, we push for students to teach it /explain it to the whole class (peer teaching). Additionally, rather than the teacher delivering all the information, learners are given a chance to collaborate with each other, and this makes them retain concepts taught easily. 3. Kinesthetic Learners: These learners enjoy hands-on activities, they learn quicker by doing & moving or changing seating positions. DIY Ferris Wheels by Std 3 Learners during a Robotics lesson As teachers, we try to make this possible as they engage in different specialist subjects. For example, However, we can make these learners get involved as we take them to the labs, Music, Art, PE and making use of buildings blocks/models. This way, learners can 10 channel their energy productively without disrupting their concentration span. 4. Reading /Writing Learners: These are learners who understand better when they read and write things down. This one is a classic traditional style where students write notes during class, read out loud what is on the board, and they love reading articles. In the Lower Primary school, particularly Standard 1 to 3, our Guided Readers program takes care of such learners. By adding all these techniques to how we teach learners, it has helped us to answer a lot of questions our parents had and remove anxieties as they drop off their children at school each day. This makes them confident that their children are treated as individuals with unique talents and goals and are given room to thrive in a system that values them more and allows self-advocacy and the best to come out of them.
A message from the Deputy Principal: Hillary Siandula
