Cognitive Abilities Development of Children

Introduction

Communication refers to a two-way spoken or non-spoken process of sharing information, ideas, and feelings between individuals with the aim of developing a common understanding. The process of communicating with children takes place even before they are born. It continues until they become mature people who are able to make free decisions.

Normally, in the initial stages of development, babies and young children communicate their ideas and feelings through non-verbal communication means such as gestures, facial signs, and intentional or unintentional movement of limbs. Sometimes, they may cry, laugh, or gurgle to express their feelings.

However, they begin to learn spoken communication and other forms of non-spoken communication as they develop. This concept paper investigates the importance of effective communication with children and the influence of communication on children’s development and learning.

Relation and Importance of Communication to Family Engagement

Communication is an important aspect of family engagement. Many researchers perceive the family as the main educator of children (Naughton, 2004). The family is necessary for building strong relationships between children and other people such as teachers and other caretakers.

Parents bear the responsibility of providing a suitable environment for children to support their development and learning. The role of parents during the young stages of children has significant implications on the development of cognitive abilities and social structures.

How Communication may Influence Young Children’s Development and Learning

Communication with children influences their development and learning in many ways. Young children judge their decisions based on the ‘self’ and the immediate environment where they interact with the family or other persons who bear their accountability (Manohar, 2012). Children are always right by their own judgment.

However, communication styles significantly influence the development of behaviours of young children. According to Wilson and Durbin (2013), aspects such as social and communication development in children occur concurrently. Therefore, families and teachers should form the appropriate behaviour in children through positive communication and/or valuing the ideas of such young children.

Important of Communication to me as a Teacher Candidate interested in Early Child Development and Learning

As a teacher, I have to develop communication skills with kids in an effort to build up the right techniques of handling children’s development and learning. Communication with kids is not an easy task. According to the Arizona Department of Education (2009), children’s ideas have value in their development and learning. As a result, teachers have to listen to them carefully so that they can offer immediate response since children are obviously impatient.

Proper communication with children enables the teacher expand their values and feeling of enjoyment. The teacher should prepare the physical environment to promote children’s development and learning (Henniger, 2010). The author suggests that the teacher should find materials and communication tools that are essential in terms of promoting communication in motivational areas such as music, art, and language.

The Importance of Family Engagement in Support of Early Child Development and Learning

Family engagement is one of the important components that support early childhood development and learning. Families play a major role to develop the literacy skills of kids from the day they are born. Erbay, Arslan, and Cagdas (2011) reveal that parents and families have the most significant impact on children’s learning and development of social competitiveness.

This situation improves their self-esteem and positive behaviour. The outcome accounts for their achievement of childhood goals. Henniger (2010) recommends that early care providers should train families on parent involvement and support for the development of the child’s cognitive abilities and learning.

The Issue of Communication that Influences and Supports Children and Families

Effectiveness is the key aspect of communication that helps children and families build strong relationships. The method of communication has significant implications on the children’s development and learning. Parents, teachers, and caretakers should always use positive language to children. They should emphasise what the children should do rather than what they should not do.

Erbay, Arslan, and Cagdas (2011) stress that parents should talk to the children while maintaining the same level of communication to extract information about their immediate needs. The authors suggest that parents and teachers should make use of kind and supportive words to motivate the children, hence enhancing their self-esteem (Long, 2009).

The Possible Communication Barriers and Resolutions

Numerous communication barriers exist between children and parents, teachers, and other caretakers. Pinto, Pessanha, and Aguiar (2013) confirm that families and teachers encounter communication barriers that prevent their willingness to engage fully in the children’s early development. The biggest barrier in the early child development and learning is language.

Children take time to develop their language skills that people understand easily. Therefore, the teacher should develop the best possible listening and communication styles to the child by developing positive attitude towards the kid in question. The second communication barrier that I predict for the interview is family attitude. Many families fail to recognise their roles as primary educators of children (Naughton, 2004).

Conclusion

Communication with children is a flexible process that ensures the development of responsible persons. Therefore, parents should invest their energy, time, and resources to acquaint themselves with the best early childhood communication practices. As the children grow older, they will stand a chance to assess their own behaviour against the communication skills that they have acquired. They will realise easily when they commit mistakes. As a result, they will engage in a self-correction approach.

Reference List

Arizona Department of Education. (2009). Importance of Good Communication Skills: Strategies for Team Building. Web.

Erbay, F., Arslan E., & Cagdas, A. (2011). An Analysis of the Effects of Communication Skills Training Provided to the Mothers of Six-Year-Old Children on the Social Skills of Children. US-China Education Review, 8(3), 384-92.

Henniger, M. (2010). Guiding Young Children in Verbal Communication. Web.

Long, Z. (2009). Parent/Child Communication. Web.

Manohar, U. (2012). Why is Communication Important. Web.

Naughton, S. (2004). Preschool Issues Concerning English Language Learners and Immigrant Children: The Importance of Family Engagement. Web.

Pinto, A., Pessanha M., & Aguiar, C. (2013). Effects of Home Environment and Centre-Based Child Care Quality on Children’s Language, Communication, and Literacy Outcomes. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 28(1), 94-101.

Wilson, S., & Durbin, C. E. (2013). Mother-Child and Father-Child Dyadic Interaction: Parental and Child Bids and Responsiveness to Each Other During Early Childhood. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 59(3), 249-79.