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Communication involves much more than verbal interactions; it encompasses vocabulary, empathy, self-control and listening skills. That’s why holistically supporting a child’s social development sets them up for success in future schooling and life.

Giving your child your full attention when communicating and encouraging them to express their feelings is crucial for their growth. At Heritage House Childcare & Early Learning Centres, we want building children’s communication skills to be a fun and brain-stimulating experience for everyone involved.

In this blog, we’ll discuss how to prioritise effective communication with your child and show them that their thoughts, feelings and concerns are valued.

Practice Active Listening

Active listening involves complete concentration on what a person is saying, making them feel heard and understood. It requires listening with all your senses and being attuned to their thoughts and feelings.

When practising this with your child at home, use body language to show that you’re fully invested in their words. This involves crouching down to their level, facing them when speaking, and maintaining eye contact. Asking follow-up questions and repeating things they’ve mentioned will reassure your child that you’re listening. Don’t interrupt them while they’re speaking, and try to maintain a balance between who is dominating the conversation. Remember that being a role model and showing your child how to be a good listener will also help them develop healthy listening skills.

Describe Your Day

Allocating time each day to sit and talk with your child is crucial for their language development. Encourage them to use as much detail as possible when discussing their day. Ask them about the good and bad parts of their day to prompt their memory and sequencing skills. You should also describe what happened in your own day so that your child can ask questions and practice active listening.

This process helps children become more comfortable with prompting and engaging in conversations. When conversing, only use language your child can understand and relate to. Remember to be clear and specific, and patiently explain what a word means if they have never heard it before.

Explain Body Language

A big part of communication is being able to read people’s nonverbal cues and body language, which children often struggle with. To help them recognise these kinds of cues, you should explain the connection between certain feelings and body movements. For example, crossing their arms means someone is angry, and scratching their head means someone is thinking. Learning about body language encourages children to express their thoughts beyond just using words. If you notice that their mannerisms are reserved during conversation, ask them to explain how they are feeling.

Read Together Every Day

Reading daily from an early age helps children learn to concentrate, communicate and build social confidence. Through exposure to different books and stories, children can expand their vocabulary by learning new sounds, words and phrases. Reading sparks creativity and imagination in children, encouraging them to be curious about the world around them.

You should take turns with your child when reading out loud, even if they only want to say one or two words from each page. After finishing each book, discuss what your child took away from the story. Ask them about the characters, plot and any new words they encountered.

Ask Your Child For Their Opinion

Asking your child their opinion on something requires them to reflect on their feelings, strengthening their emotional processing skills. These questions could be about something as simple as which park they would like to visit today. When your child is giving their opinion, listen to them with empathy and without judgment. If they are non-verbally expressing their feelings, such as performing a tantrum, ask them to find words to describe how they feel. For example, ask if they are sad, angry or scared.

Communication at Heritage House

At Heritage House, our curriculum aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and strives to develop children’s connection to the world and communication skills. Drawing on the foundations you have built with your child at home, our education improves children’s social independence, preparing them for their transition to formal schooling.

Our experienced team of educators provides children with the support they need to manage their emotions, helping them feel confident expressing their thoughts and feelings.

To learn more about how we help children develop positive social skills, book a tour of your local centre, or contact us today!