HOW TO TALK WITH YOUNG CHILDREN

1.

GET DOWN TO THE CHILDS LEVEL - EYE TO EYE!

2.

BECOME TOTALLY ENGROSSED IN WHAT THE CHILD IS COMMUNICATING TO YOU MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT.

3.

USE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS THAT SHOW INTEREST IN WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.

4.

ALWAYS TELL A CHILD WHAT TO DO NOT WHAT NOT TO DO (USE YOUR INSIDE
VOICE INSTEAD OF BE QUIET).

5.

TALK ABOUT THE PRESENT - CHILDREN HAVE DIFFICULTY WITH YESTERDAY AND
TOMORROW.

6.

ANSWER QUESTIONS HONESTLY...BUT GIVE SIMPLE EXPLANATIONS.

7.

NAME OBJECTS, THINGS, AND PEOPLE IN THEIR WORLD - THEY ARE BUSY
LEARNING 10,000 NEW WORDS!

8.

USE THOSE NAMES OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

9.

RESTATE THE CHILDS SENTENCE CORRECTLY WHEN THEY HAVE USED INCORRECT
GRAMMAR - BE SUBTLE!

10.

SPEAK CORRECTLY AND CLEARLY.

11.

ASK DIVERGENT QUESTIONS SUCH AS: TELL ME ABOUT... HOW DO YOU THINK
THAT HAPPENED? I WONDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF...

12.

RESPECT CHILDREN...DO NOT TALK ABOUT THEM AS IF THEY ARE NOT THERE.

13.

LAUGH WITH CHILDREN NOT AT THEM.

14.

ENCOURAGE QUESTIONS FROM CHILDREN.

15.

LET CHILDREN TAKE THE LEAD IN DISCUSSIONS...THE TEACHERS ROLE IS TO

EXTEND LEARNING.

16.

USE STATEMENTS NOT QUESTIONS WHEN DIRECTING CHILDREN INTO AN

ACTIVITY (SAY IT IS TIME TO GO OUTSIDE RATHER THAN DO YOU WANT TO
GO OUTSIDE?).

17.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!