Observing communication

• Provide an account of your observation.

I went to a local park and I observed a mother and what looked like a 3-4 year old girl interacting on the playground.

• Describe what you noticed and learned.

During my observation I noticed the mother was very attentive to the child which is great, she also was vocal and engaged with the child in play, but when the child would try something a little risky like hang from the monkey bars the mother was extremely cautious she stood there and told her to "be careful" and she then told her after a while to come down she doesn't want her to fall.  Even though she was standing right there that could still happen.  She was very nurturing and cared a lot she followed the little girl around the park to make sure she was okay and she was very little so it was necessary.   

• Make connections between what you observed and the effective communication strategies presented in this week’s learning resources. What could have been done to make the communication more affirming and effective?

With the interaction I noticed the mothers communication was very effective, the child was listening to her and responded positively to the mother, I would have been more playful with her because the mother seemed very tense at times and you could tell she was extremely cautious which could have scared the child to fall or something.  She could have been a little more playful and not so much watching the child but more so playing with her.  She as doing this at first, but it turned as time went on from playful to just monitoring and following the little girl to make sure she didn't get hurt.  

• Share your thoughts with regard to how the communication interactions you observed may have affected the child's feelings and/or any influences it may have had on the child's sense of self worth.

In this instance I feel the mother showcased a lot of care, but it also could have put fear in the child that maybe she will fall.  This is why I mentioned the mother could have been more playful still interacting and watching the child but in a less stressful and cautious way so that it does not distract the child from play.  

• Offer insights on how the adult-child communication you observed this week compares to the ways in which you communicate with the children. What have you learned about yourself this week with respect to how well you talk with and listen to young children? In what ways could you improve?

I am somewhat similar to the mother when I am observing children, but I am more playful and interactive with the child.  I have learned this week that I am very attentive to children for the most part, I like to ask them questions and address things that I see.  I do however want to work on being more attentive to listening to their curiosity and addressing what I observe.  Sometimes as adults we overlook things as kids being kids and it is important to know some things are more than that such as gender associations or curiosity and questions on race.  As adults we have to be attentive to this and ask our own questions that could help the child in the long run to better understand and to approach things differently.