Observing Communications

I had a parent come in at the end of nap the other day and noticed her child was not awake yet. Rather than jolt him awake she took the time to rub his back and identify herself to him, usually I am the one waking him up on Friday's and carrying him down the hall to put his shoes on. This day he always gets a short nap. As she woke him up she talked to him gently and soothingly. The mom also gave him choices as he woke up. Do you want to walk down the hall or be carried, take a snack from Miss Laury to McDonald's when you’re done with OT? With each choice he was given if it upset him she calmed him down and asked the question again, still in calm, soothing voice. As he left she prompted him how what to say for goodbyes.

What I noticed is that mom with each move and choice she was telling him what was need to be done or what she was going to do. Such as your blanket need to go in the washer (she guided him to me in the laundry room), do you need help with your shoes (handed him his shoes and remind him to unvelcro), or do you want me to carry you to the car (told him to help jump to be in her arms). These are very much the same strategies that were use in the article written by Kovach and Da Ros-Vosele, when they talked about talking with infants. Although this child is not an infant, parts of his thinking skills and verbal skill are at a level much younger than his actual age. Had the mom not taken the time waking him up the outcome would have been disastrous, crying, screaming and kicking would have happened. Then the appointment for OT would have been more of calming him down rather than helping him figure out what to do with his body and keep him grounded for the week to come.

As I read the articles I took my time with most of the children as time allowed. Especially my two youngest children, an infant and toddler, I care for. Most of their interaction are just being and realizing that there are other people to interact with. As I talked with them I remember to wait for their response and if I needed to do something with them or to them I talked about as I did it such as putting on shoes to go outside or change a diaper. But I really tried to stop and listen to what they had to say and now will begin to work with the older ones to wait to talk with me until their friend is done talking with me; many times they want to all talk with me at once
Resource:
 Kovach, B., & Da Ros-Voseles, D. (2011). Communicating with babies. YC: Young Children, 66(2), 48-50.
Stephenson, A. (2009). Conversations with a 2-year-old. YC: Young Children, 64(2), 90-95