Adult-Child Communication

Throughout one’s day it is easy to find adult-child interactions in many places we go. This week I paid careful attention to these interactions when I was at the grocery store.

When I was in the produce section I noticed a woman with two young children. She was looking at various fruits and vegetables, with her children asking questions about what they were going to buy. She answered them that she was going to get some carrots, but they were free to each choose something if they did not want carrots, encouraging them to look at all the different colors and shapes of the produce around them.

I noticed that the mother encouraged healthy eating not by pushing vegetables and fruit onto her children, but letting them explore their options and giving them choices. She allowed time for questions and gave feedback about their choices (i.e. “celery is very crunchy! We can make some neat snacks with that- like ants on a log”). These interactions showed her children that she valued their thoughts and ideas about what food the family should eat and their contributions to the task of grocery shopping and being part of the family.

This mother made grocery shopping something meaningful to her children. They had input that was valued, and were allowed to make choices of their own, showing independence. Children learn more when they are interested in the topic at hand, and are able to help guide learning. The mother used the effective communication strategies of providing feedback and asking questions. I could not notice anything that needed improvement- I was pretty impressed the woman could take the time to make grocery shopping so fun!

What I observed this week mirrors much of what I do in the classroom. I do the best I can to find something that is learned in every interaction and activity throughout the day, no matter how small. Even snack time presents opportunities for free communication and a chance to learn more about each other. I give them feedback, ask questions about their interests, and validate their ideas. While I think I interact positively with my students, I think I could improve on my listening skills, particularly during the more academic periods of the day. I sometimes feel rushed to get through paced curriculum, but my students will gain more if I were to go at the pace of their curiosity rather than the pace of the teacher manual. I need to step back sometimes and really listen to what they are saying, as sometimes the answers they give to questions may not be exactly what I am looking for, but they still reflect knowledge and learning that has taken place.