COMMUNICATION SKILLS - INFANTS
How you communicate with the children in your care will have an impact on how they develop their self-esteem, language, socialization, healthy relationships and perception of the world around them. One of the most important things you can do is talk to the children and listen to them. Have lots of positive communication and interaction on a regular basis.
Effective communication with children requires communication styles and behavior that is appropriate to the age of the child. Understanding how children of different ages communicate and what they like to talk about is key to having a rewarding interaction.
INFANTS BIRTH TO 12 MONTHS
Infants make themselves heard, they cry when they are hungry or uncomfortable. As a provider, you soon learn what those cries mean and respond to them. They also coo, gurgle, and grunt as if talking to you. They use facial expressions, body movements like cuddling, back arching, eye movements and arm and leg movements.
TIPS FOR ENCOURAGING INFANT COMMUNICATION:
• When you are face to face with the infant such as diapering time and feeding time, talk to the infant, sing songs, and gently tickle the infant.
Maintain eye contact, infants are fascinated by your face and love to look at faces up close.
• Catch the infant’s attention and help them focus by using a singsong, high pitched tone of voice. Big smiles, exaggerated facial expressions, and wide-opened eyes will all get their attention.
• Quickly respond to the infant’s communication by smiling back when the infant smiles at you. Comforting the infant when he is crying is responding to this communicating to you. If the infant turns his head to the side, relax and let him rest.
• Talk to the infant and identify their communication to you.
For example: “I know you are crying, I know you are hungry, I’m getting your bottle now.” Or “You are smiling, you like it when I tickle your feet!”
Each infant has their own unique personality. Learn the infant’s style of expressing emotion, preferred level of activity and tendency to be social.
For Example: Some infants are quiet and observant and prefer infrequent adult interaction. Other infants are emotional, active and seek continuous adult attention and interaction. Recognizing the unique personality of each infant will make effective communication easier.
Include infants in your schedule. Reading to infants helps them learn communication. When reading a book to the children in your care, include the infant, hold her on your lap as you read to the other children.
Alway try to include the infant in the activities you do with older children. Hearing the voices and conversations, and having eye contact with the other children are important to the infant. With that said, it is vital that you are protecting the infant from any impulsive moves from the other children. NEVER leave an infant alone with other children.