6358. Week 3. Observing Communication

I observed a mother with her 4 year old son and her one year old baby girl (the ages are my approximations). The mom and the boy were eating in the food court of a mall, the boy was very talkative, while the girl was more passive drinking her bottle, and the mom was paying more attention to her cell phone than to the boy’s interests. The boy looked to his mom’s face while talking to her, and also raised his voice when his mom was checking her cell phone and not paying attention to him. The baby girl dropped her bottle and started moving her arms and legs, but her mom only took the bottle and did not look to the girl while she was looking to her mom. The boy kept talking to her mom and she just answered with yes or no, but she asked the boy to eat his food so they could leave; instead of eating, the boy just gave his mom a glance –like disapproving her plans, and he started playing with his food. Because the boy refused to eat, his mom told him they would leave the food court and she would throw his food away, because he was not eating; only playing. The boy did not like the comments his mom made, because he crossed his arms and frowned, giving to his mom a glance that made him look he was upset. Finally, the mom threw the food away, grabbed the stroller with her baby girl, and asked the boy to follow her, the boy did it. While following to his mom, the boy dragged his jacket and walked with his face and shoulders down.

Through this observation, I noticed the fundamental roles the environment and personal disposition play in a conversation (O'Hair & Wiemann, 2012), because the mom I observed to seemed to be more concerned about other things than to her children. I also learned that children behave in the way they are treated. I think that if the mom had paid some attention to the boy’s conversation, he may have eaten his food, and both may have left the place in better conditions. In addition, the cell phone has become an object that steals more than people’s attention; it also steals the vital time that families can spend together, listening to, and learning more from each other.

It is fundamental that children feel they are being listened and seen, because this is the way we can help them communicate (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). In other words, if we give children our attention while they are talking, they will make the connection that this is the way they have to be or act when having a conversation with another person. I agree with Kolbeck (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011) when stating that children communicate with their body, because in my observation the boy’s faces, frowns, and even the way he walked, let me know he was upset and maybe not feeling respected by her mom. In order to make the communication more affirming and effective, I consider the mom has to place her cell phone away, thus all her attention would be for her son and the baby girl. In addition, the mom can ask questions to the boy, in order to build up the boy’s knowledge (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). Establishing eye contact while talking is important too, because it let the boy know his mom is focusing her attention on him (O'Hair & Wiemann, 2012).

I consider the children’s feelings were hurt by the lack of interest their mom showed to both –the baby girl and the boy, because by not paying attention to them, she is sending the message that there are other things that are more important to her than her own children. I try to place myself in the boy’s situation, realizing that my mom does not listen to the things I consider important to share with her and this make me feel like I am not important to her. I think the boy refused to eat because he got upset, due to his mom’s attitude, and the mom may tell him he is not behaving in a proper way, but who is going to tell the mom the importance of her listening to her children? Later in life, maybe the boy is going to behave in a way, in order to meet his mom’s expectations.

While being with children, I try to pay attention to what they are sharing with me, because if they are talking to me it is because they want me to know what they need to say. I try to always look to their eyes, because this way I can be focus on the child who is talking, and he realizes my attention is only on him at that moment. From now on, I will make more questions related to what children are sharing, in order to better know what they are meaning. Something i have reinforced in myself, is to place the cell phone away when being with children, because it can be the distractor that makes me miss information that maybe is/was important for children.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Communicating with young children. In Strategies for Working with Diverse Children. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2652530_1%26url%3D

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

6358. Week 2. Creating Affirming Environments

If I had my own Family Child Care Home, I would like to start with a welcome sign that has been written in the languages of all families and teachers in the program in order to help everyone feel truly welcomed to the program (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). Our schedule with pictures would be displayed to let families know the activities we would be doing throughout the day. A weekly menu will also appear in this area, in order to let families know the meals we would enjoy. I would like to have an area in which a family picture of each child could be displayed, in this area there would be the sign in-out binder for parents, plus a board in which children can write their name or print their handprint. I would also create an area with cubbies –each cubby will show the child’s family picture in order to help children identify their own and place their coat or extra clothes in there; in this area the children and family members could say good bye to each other.

I would have a room with books, a sofa, some pillows, puppets, and stuffed animals, in order to help children calm down, is children are crying, and let them begin the day in the child care home. In the free play area, there would be pictures of children and families in the program, as well as pictures of families from different cultural background than the ones children and families in the program represent, but who are part of their society or community (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). In this free play area I would also have clothes, dolls, and toys that are known by the children –because of their use, color, or texture; in addition to some things that may be unusual to them, but common in other cultural groups –like unusual pots or dresses. I would also have dolls and pictures related to people who have disabilities and can still do anything as children in the program can do. Having pictures of elderly people doing activities will be fundamental, in order to let children know they are capable too and their age does not impede them to do be independent.

I would also like to have musical instruments that children may know, but also some that may be not common, like castanets or maybe Chinese drums. The musical instruments can be played by children at circle time or at any other opportunity in which we all are together, in order to learn more about the importance of teamwork, while creating music or rhythms. I would also have an area in which we all can enjoy meals. With the participation of all families, I would like to create a menu that includes one of the favorite recipes from each child, because meal times are great opportunities to share and know more about the children’s backgrounds (Nemeth, 2009). If possible, I would like to set up an outdoors playground, in which children can climb up stairs or a slide; I would also have a sand box, monkey bars, and a path for riding bikes or tricycles.

In order to establish communication with families and involve them as partners in their children’s education, I would like to make home visits, at least once a month; in addition, I would keep in touch with them through emails, letters, and phone calls. Every week I would give each family a copy of our menu and the activities we have planned for the week. If possible, I would like to organize potlucks in which families can meet others and maybe find support among themselves while sharing their own stories.

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Welcome to an anti-bias learning community. In Strategies for Working with Diverse Children. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2652530_1%26url%3D

Nemeth, K. (2009). Meeting the home language mandate. Young Children, 64(2), 36-42.

6357. Week 8. What I Have Learned

I wish I could help children and families to discover how valuable their uniqueness is. At the same time, through their discovery, I hope children and families can identify how enriching their community is when everyone is included.

A goal I have for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is that early childhood settings and professionals value how fundamental is to welcome, respect, and embrace the differences that make each person unique and valuable. I would also like all families and the people involved within the field, could access the resources each one need, in order to overcome their challenges and finally thrive.

Finally, I would like to thank to all my colleagues and instructor Dr. Kien for their supportive and fundamental interaction throughout this course. I cannot imagine myself without the help I got from each of you, when trying to find and define myself throughout this course. iMIL GRACIAS! ;)

Best wishes for all of you in future endeavors!

P.S. Only four more months :)