Six crucial communication skills for early childhood

Published: 24 Mar 2023 Tagged: active listeningattention deficit disorderchildhoodchildrenclarityCommunicationending conversationseye contactgrammarinitiating conversationslisteningparentingpleasantnesspolitenessPronunciationresponsivenessskillsspeakingtake turns

Failure to impart effective communication skills could socially isolate a youngster for the rest of their lives. One of a parent's most important responsibilities is to teach their children how to speak efficiently and politely. It is a grave error to assume that children will acquire appropriate communication skills on their own. From the time their child is born, parents should start teaching them the fundamentals of communication, and as the child gets older, they should continue to develop those skills.

A fundamental pillar of civilisation is effective interpersonal communication. Basic communication skills can be modelled by parents to their children in daily talks. Laying the groundwork for effective communication later in life can be done by intentionally conversing with children and employing polite conversational techniques.

The parent's ultimate goal is to create a person who can communicate politely, listen to what others have to say, and convey his or her own thoughts, ideas, and opinions in a clear and concise manner. The author of Emily Post's book on etiquette outlines six fundamentals of communication that parents should impart to their children.

• Making eye contact is the first appropriate skill. It is crucial to teach kids how to make eye contact with the person they are speaking to. Direct eye contact conveys respect and demonstrates interest in the other party to the discourse. It's important to teach kids that averting their eyes is impolite and a sign of disinterest.
• Second, use clear, appropriate language. Parents should set an example for their kids in terms of using proper grammar, speaking slowly, and pronouncing words clearly. Parents should listen to how their kids are speaking and gently reprimand them without making them feel bad. Correcting errors in front of others is not necessary because doing so could make kids feel self-conscious and prevent them from speaking in public.
• Third, take turns and avoid interrupting. Children need to be taught to refrain from speaking up in conversations just because they feel like it. Parents must stop their children from engaging in this conduct and instil self-control in them. The parent should stop talking when a child interrupts, firmly instruct the interrupting child to wait their turn, and then resume the conversation.
• Fourth, pay attention and be thoughtful in your responses. The best method to teach effective listening to youngsters is to set an example for them. Parents should listen intently and repeat words and phrases back to their children during conversations so that the youngsters feel heard. Ask the youngster the right questions, and then let him or her respond. Affirm your interest in the child's viewpoint. The most effective conversationalists are good listeners.
• Fifth, politely join conversations. There is a proper technique to enter a discussion using polite behaviour. Children will eventually pick up the habit if parents continually model how to politely initiate a discussion. Parents should model for their children how to enter a gathering discreetly, smile at those conversing with them, pay attention to what they are saying, and wait to speak until they are addressed. Parents should also teach their kids appropriate behaviour when someone joins a conversation that is already in progress. When the speaker is finished, the group can welcome the newcomer and introduce him or her. Members of the group can smile and nod to acknowledge the person joining them.
• Post concludes by saying that it's best to end interactions on a pleasantly. It's important to know how to leave a conversation with politeness, and parents should put a lot of effort into teaching their kids this valuable lesson. The phrase "I promised my cousin that I would throw the ball with him and so I need to go now, but it was really wonderful talking to you" is a good example of how children can end a discussion politely. Controlling volume, refraining from utilising "potty talk," and maintaining the privacy of sensitive concerns are other crucial communication skills that parents should emphasise when teaching their children.

Children should be taught how to read nonverbal clues and communication by their parents. Eye rolling and grimacing, yawning at speakers, hair twisting, turning one's back on the speaker, picking one's fingernails, and checking one's watch are all examples of impolite facial expressions. Children must be taught that their nonverbal habits and actions might offend others. Children will eventually start to grasp when to conclude discussions, wrap up stories, or shift the subject after learning to interpret nonverbal clues from others.

Today's environment requires people to be skilled communicators. For children to learn how to interact efficiently and nicely, their parents must provide instruction. You can learn how to listen well, regulate yourself, use proper grammar, and be sensitive. Parents who practise conversational skills from a young age will aid their children in developing advanced communication abilities that will serve them well as adults.