Skill #7 Communication Skills

What is communication skill?

Communication, at its simplest, is the act of transferring information from one place to another. It may be vocally, written, visually or non-verbally. In practice, it is often a combination of several of these. The ability to communicate effectively is a key skill, and the better we are at it, the better our quality of life will be. We begin communicating from the moment we are born; letting our mothers know we have arrived with our first cry. As a child develops, it is important we nurture their communication skills so they are capable of expressing themselves, clearly and confidently, in all aspects and areas of their life.

Why is it necessary?

Communication skills are important in child development for the following reasons:

Teaching effective communication skills to children may help them to express themselves clearly and convey their feelings in a better manner.
Communication skills can facilitate learning and meaningful exchange of information with others.
Communicating well may boost your child’s social IQ by helping him build sound relationships during his interactions with other people.
A kid who can properly communicate verbally may be comfortable producing written communications as well which is likely to help him perform better academically.
Kids with communication problems may develop behavioural disorders like depression, social withdrawal, low self-esteem.

We encourage children to communicate so they can tell what they’re feeling and thinking. We listen and respond in a sensitive way to all kinds of things – not just nice things or good news, but also anger, embarrassment, sadness and fear. Focusing on body language and tone as well as words so we can really understand what children are saying, taking into account what children of different ages can understand and how long they can pay attention in a conversation. Communicating well with children improves bond with them, and encourages them to listen to you.

We are equipping them straight away with the skills to build a successful future. Register today: 9321333323 | admin@helenogrady.co.in

9 tips to build communication skills

Talk regularly with your child: Kids who have trouble communicating may be reluctant to talk at all. Encourage your child to initiate or engage in conversation as much as possible so she begins to feel more comfortable sharing her thoughts.
Describe the day: Encourage your child to tell you how the day went—in as much detail as possible. Ask, “What were the best and worst parts of school?” This helps with recall and sequencing, two skills kids with communication issues may struggle with. Recount the events of your day as well.
Listen to and reflect what your child says: Model one of the most important conversation skills: Listening to and expanding upon what someone else says. After your child has told you something, repeat back part of what your child said, and then follow up with a question.
Role-play conversations: Talk through the types of situations your child might be the most nervous about—talking to other kids while waiting for the bus, for example, or sitting with them at lunch. Then practice what your child might say. Take turns pretending to be each person in the conversation so that your child can think through different scenarios, conversation topics and responses.
Point out body language: It can be tricky for kids with communication troubles to pick up on nonverbal cues, sometimes called body language. For your grade school child, consider showing and explaining body language: “I’m crossing my arms because I’m feeling angry,” or “When you roll your eyes at me, I feel disrespected.”
Use conversation starters: After a long day, it can be difficult to come up with something fun to discuss. Explore conversation starter ideas from the Family Dinner Project. And take a look at tips for talking with your child. Topics could range from “What was the funniest thing you saw in school today?” to “I think the car needs a good cleaning. Should we take it to the car wash, or do it ourselves? What would you like to be in charge of? Bumpers? Vacuuming?”
Read together: It doesn’t matter what you read with your child. What’s most important is that you do it together. Even if your child chooses the same books every night, she is developing a better understanding of the character and plots and vocabulary used. Take turns reading aloud to one another, even if your child just fills a word in here and there. After finishing a book or TV show, discuss the setting, plot, characters and any new words that might be in the story.
Ask your child’s opinion: Communicating requires your child to reflect on feelings. So ask your child to weigh in on daily decisions. It can be as simple as which library you should go to or where you might spend your vacation. Also ask your child’s opinion about relevant happenings, such as, “Should the other team have won?” Thinking about recent news events? Using “I think” or “I feel” statements is good practice for having successful everyday conversations.
Encourage journaling: Some kids find it easier to talk with other people once they’ve had a chance to think their thoughts through. Writing in a diary or journal about day-to-day activities and feelings may help your child form thoughts to share with others. This can ultimately make your child feel more prepared and confident when someone asks what’s been going on or what she’s been doing.