Fundamentals of good communication with children and their parents

Tomaž Vec (2010) Fundamentals of good communication with children and their parents. In: Pedagoški koncept Reggio Emilia in Kurikulum za vrtce : podobnosti v različnosti. Pedagoška fakulteta, Ljubljana, pp. 361-388. ISBN 978-961-353-052-5

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Abstract

Communication is a means accompanying each one of us from birth to death, it is unavoidable, it defines us as individuals and helps us influence other people. It is the key aspect of professionalism, which, in interaction with others, enables us to define and achieve our objectives in the service provider area and at the same time allows us to nurture interpersonal relationships with children and adults. The following paper deals with a dilemma whether professional communication strives to achieve a common goal with the interlocutor or whether the established communication is already a goal in its own terms. Communication in kindergartens all too frequently occurs as a mere transfer of information or specific contents to a child or their parents. The function of this transfer of messages is to influence the behaviour, the feelings and the way of thinking of the other (a child or an adult). Contemporary views on interpersonal communication show that information transfer or the so called communicative informativeness is but one of interpersonal communication functions. To people, making contacts is more important than information value. In this article, the making of contacts is defined through two so called primary communication functions (the function of maintanance and creation of social reality). In children, these primary functions of communication co-construct their perceptions of themselves, of others and of the world in which they live. Through this, a child's self-image is co-constructed through their communication style with others. This paper also presents the significance and function of communication with preschool children and their parents. Moreover, some principles of professional communication, needed for meeting the basic needs, are presented in greater detail.

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