Communicating with Elementary Age Children
Each child is going to need something different to help them learn. Some may need to touch, while others need to hear. Still more will need to see.
Furthermore, the learning needs change as they grow from birth to adolescence to adulthood.
The point of this article is to emphasize that as parents, leaders and teachers, it is important to remember that we are raising children to be adults.
6 Ways to Communicate with Kids
1. Listen With Your Eyes
When two people engage in conversation, there should be eye contact. Maintaining eye contact means focusing on the person communicated with. The person talking will feel respected and the person listening will be engaged.
It is easy to get distracted and miss a meaning of the conversation if attention is diverted. Eliminate distractions and focus on the other person while communicating.
Not only does this keep an engaging conversation, children also learn how to listen to others.
2. Let Them Finish Their Sentences
We, as parents, sometimes get in a hurry or grow impatient. We anticipate what is going to happen and answer a questions too early, maybe not understanding the complete situation.
When listening to children talk, allow them to finish their sentences.
Relate this to teaching kids to do something rather than doing it for them. It would be a hundred times faster to finish a task because we know how to do it. A better option is to allow children to learn to do it. This will take observation and patience for them to get it right.
The same principle applies to allowing children to complete their thoughts. They are learning to connect words and phrases in communicative ways.
3. Respect Emotion
Young children are still developing. Emotion is a huge part of their lives. Emotion takes many forms from joy to rage. All children are learning from their surroundings and often react in conversations rather then engage in conversation.
Respect children enough to know that they are learning how to engage with other people. If there is outbursts or an immediate defense, reinforce simple communication strategies. Teach children to respond rather than react.
4. Correct With Suggestion
It is very easy to respond to a child's mistake with anger. Realize that they are learning.
Instead of reacting to the situation, use the situation to teach a child how to improve in the future. If needed show them the proper technique and observe for correct application in the future.
Avoid name calling when correcting.
Quote from the Author: "I remember being yelled at for not drying the dishes properly as a kid. Thinking back to that, I would have rather been showed where I was failing so I could correct it. We owe that to our kids today. Explain how they can improve rather than react in rage."
5. Encourage Exploration
One of the greatest ways for kids to learn is by doing. Give them opportunities to create new ideas. Visit our Activities Page for some ideas on how they can explore.
BetteringDads.com promotes being present in a child's life. Kids are naturally curious and ask questions. Be there to answer the questions and help them explore new ideas and concepts.
6. Fundamental Ideas Should Be Repetitive
Kids love repetition. This could be hearing the repetition of the beat of a song or doing tasks that they become comfortable with. Another suggestion would be to be consistent and repetitive in values and standards in your home. Set a benchmark for children and keep it consistent in the home.
If children know the rules or standards from an early age, they will respect them as they grow older. They will also develop their own standards.