Observing Communication

Young people have real ideas and opinions to share.  They are very curious and ask many questions on their own.  Our role as parents, teachers, adults, and the community as a whole is to guide their ideas as we instill in them positive concepts (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

My observation for this assignment took place during a short Veteran's Day Service at my church.  Three small children between the ages of four and six came in with two of their Aunts.  When the program was over the three little girls walked down the center aisle to where a visiting Pastor was standing.  She spoke to them and asked them their names.  After each little girl said her name, they told the Pastor that they wanted to sing a song for her.  She immediately sat down and began to listen as they sang "The Itsy Bitsy Spider".  As they were singing, the Pastor performed the hand movements that go along with the song.  She praised them for their singing and then asked them if they knew a song about Jesus.  One of their Aunts told them to sing the song "Jesus Loves the Little Children."  Even though the congregation was waiting on the Pastor in the rear of the Church, she sat up front listening and praising these three little girls whose faces were lit up with smiles. 

As I watched this exchange of communication through a few words, song, and laughter, I was reminded of  the statement made by Ms. Kolbeck (Lareaute Education, Inc., 2011) that children must feel that you are listening to them and valuing what they are saying or doing.  Children communicate in all different ways.  These girls definitely loved singing and wanted to share what they knew with these person that they had never seen before, but for some reason, they were drawn to her.  This spoke volumes to me about her presence and how the children must have felt very safe and comfortable with this presence.  As educators, I think that it is very important that our children feel safe enough around us to show us their creative side.  We must in turn listen and support them in the things that they do.

References:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and             ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Communication with young children [video]. Strategies for Working with Diverse Children. Baltimore, MD: Author.