Observing Communication

The communication experience between a young child and an adult took place at the birthday party at the movie theater. There was this one little boy that was a guest and relative of the birthday boy.  The little boy that was a guest was a little younger than that of the birthday boy.  The host which was the mother of the birthday boy had her hands full with the normal birthday things. It seemed like the little boy that was the guest just could not find his place in this setting. Every time the host would invite the children to participate in parts of the party. This little boy would say I don’t want to do that. Then she would tell if did not want to participate it was okay but to allow everyone else the opportunity. He would then kind get quiet until the next activity would come. Finally, when it was time to get popcorn before the movie this little went on and on about not wanting any popcorn. This time the host ignored him (I thought) and prepared all the children popcorn including this child. The children got their popcorn right before they went into the movie. The host told the little boy to help her give the bigger children the popcorn. The little boy eagerly accepted and when everyone had gotten their popcorn there was one left over. He took it and set down and enjoyed the movie eating popcorn.

The situation taught me that the little boy was intimidated by being around bigger children. I really applauded the way the host address the little boy. She made him feel important in the environment by making him a helper. It wasn’t that the little didn’t want to be there he just did not know how to fit in with the birthday boy and all of his other friends because he was younger. It was weird to see that play out but what was more special was the way the host empowered the little boy in this situation. I feel that this was a definitely an example of speaking the language of children.  As in the video the hosts made the little boy feel listened to and seen.

I really like the way the host in my observation change the way the little boy felt about himself at the party. He went from being intimidate by the bigger kids to finding his way to fitting in with them. I feel that if I was in the situation I would have really gone out of my way to support the little fellow too. I have learned that it is really important to listen to children. They don’t have the capability of communicating like adults so it is important to really listen to them. They are expressing themselves to the best of their abilities.  I want to practice on listen more to children and paying close attention to what they say and not say to best support them in their circumstance.

Reference:

Laureate, 2011. Communicating with young children".