Observing Communication

Communication is the sending of information from one person to another. Before parents and their children can communicate, both must feel comfortable enough to do so. While their children are very young, parents should begin setting the stage for open, effective communication. Parents can do this by making themselves available to their children when they have questions or just want to talk. Furthermore, parents who provide their children with plenty of love, understanding and acceptance are helping to create a climate for open communication. Children who feel love and acceptance by their parents are more likely to open up and share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns with their parents.


Just the other day I was in a toy store, picking up a gift for my nephew for his birthday. I overheard a parent complementing their child for picking up a toy in the aisle, another child left behind. The parent quoted “Daniel, I appreciate you picking up that ball that was in the aisle that was an excellent choice you made”. The child however, made eye contact back with the parent and said “thank you, I did not want anybody falling or hurting themselves.”

Listening and observing the communication between the parent and child was an excellent scenario. The parent immediately gave praise to their child as well as making eye contact and observing what David did. When it comes to my own interactions with children, I will do is keep my conversations brief. Primarily because, the goal is for us to pass on information a little at a time while checking to see if the child is paying attention to what is being said. We should let the child decide when enough is enough. We can look for clues that the child has had enough. Some clues include fidgeting, lack of eye contact, distractibility, etc. We need to know when to communicate with the child, because what they have to say is just as important. Often times too, we are distracted when the child is talking.

My Family Child Care Home

Based on the reading “visual and material environment from Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves by Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwards, I have come created a vision of my family child care center. In my family child care center I would have books, magazines, toys, furniture, poster and various art pieces that will engage young children and their families. Books would include age appropriate books such as big books for 2 through 4 years old as well as having different books for the other ages that are fiction, nonfiction, and nursery rhymes just to name a few. Magazines would be books related to science such as the national geographic, and any other books that goes along with their subjects. Toys would consist of dolls, play dough, trains, blocks, etc. Furniture would be at the level for students. For example, for toddlers it would be small chairs and tables. Poster and various art pieces would tie into the different cultures in the classroom. I love green plants, it enhances the room. Besides a welcome sign, guidelines, rules, expectations and a huge smile on my face, is all the indication I need to assure parents they are in the right place.


As Adriana Castillo mentioned, I would also like to create a special place for students to bring something from home that is sentimental to demonstrate that you are welcomed and loved.