Communicating Effectively with Children: Ages and Stages, Essays (university) of Research Methodology

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Communicating with

Children

Outline

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Key points in communicating with children

according to age group

Specific communication strategies

Basic Principles of Good

Parent/Child communication

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development

7-11years

Concrete

operations

Logical thinking

Masters use of numbers and other

concrete ideas, classification,

conservation, etc

Health teaching closely aligned with

reality and presented with concrete

images

Mastery of passive tense by

age 7 and complex

grammatical skills by age

10

years+ 12

Formal

operations

Abstract thinking

Futuristic, takes broader, more

theoretical perspective

Capable of making health-related

judgments about their care

Near adult-like skills

Key points in communicating with children

according to age group

Infant

• Use parent to give care.
• Establish rapport with the caregiver and keep 2 feet at least

between nurse and infant (talk to and touch the infant and

smile)

• Always allow the mother to be within sight of her child and vice

versa.

• Encourage the infant’s caregivers to use a lot of intimate space

interaction (8-18) inch.

• Quickly respond to infant communication ( comfort a crying

baby, smile at a smiling infant).

• Make the most of time when you and an infant are facing each

other during diaper changes, feeding or meal time).

Key points in communicating with children

according to age group

Toddlers

- Make explanations brief and clear, use child’s own

vocabulary words for basic care activities.

- Speak in phrases (rephrase the child’s message in a

simple, complete sentence and avoid baby talk)

- Struggling with issues of Autonomy and Control

(allow the child some control by asking for example:

do you want a half glass or a whole glass of milk?)

- Allow the child to express anger and to protest about

his other care (It’s okay to cry when you are angry or

hurt).

Key points in communicating with

children according to age group

Toddlers

Allow the child to sit up or walk as often a possible and -

as soon as possible after hurtful procedure (It’s all over

. and we can do something more fun)

.Use non directive modes -

Separation Anxiety (accept protesting when parent -

. leaves, hug, rock the child)

.Show an interest in one of the child’s favorite toys -

Preschoolers like to talk about their past experiences. They experiment

with pretend and fantasy play; sometimes they talk about imaginary

experiences.

Preschoolers often talk to themselves when playing and working on tasks

such as puzzles or art activities.

Communication strategies

Ask preschoolers questions about past events; probe for details and

provide new words to enhance description of experiences(e.g., “Tell me

who you played with at child care today? What did you do together?”)

Create opportunities for the preschoolers to engage in fantasy and pretend

play, either alone or with friends (e.g., pretend baby bathing, pretend

housekeeping)

Some preschoolers unable to tolerate direct eye-to-eye contact.

They may react negatively and with increased anxiety if a long

explanation is given regarding a painful procedure.

Communication strategies

Use some eye contact and attending posture. Sit or stoop, and use

a slow, soft tone of voice.

Complete the procedure as quickly as possible; give explanation

about its purpose afterward. For example, say “Jimmy, I’m going to

give you a shot”(quickly administer the injection). “There all done. It’s

okay to cry when you hurt. I’d complain, too. This medicine will make

your tummy feel better.”

Continuing need to have control

Communication strategy

Provide for many choices (e.g., “Do you want to get dressed now or

after breakfast?”)

School-age children talk a lot and ask a lot of questions. They seek

more information and justification for the way things are.

They can understand and talk about the perspective of another person

and are beginning to recognize the influence their behavior can have on

others.

School-age children can handle more pieces of information at the

same time and with assistance from adults can effectively engage in

goal-setting and problem solving.

At this age, children spend more time talking and playing with peers

and friends.

Assuming increased responsibility for health care practices

Increased need for privacy

Communication strategies

Reinforce basic care activities in teaching

Respect privacy: knock on the door before entering; tell the child

when and for what reasons you will need to return to his or her room

Adolescents are interested in talking in depth about themselves and

about their relationships with others. They want to understand who

they are becoming and what others think and feel about them.

Adolescents want to talk about how they are different from their

parents and the rest of the world. They are beginning to recognize that

their parents are imperfect people.

Adolescence is a time when children typically act more negatively

and have more conflicts with their parents.

Adolescents spend more time alone and with their friends and less

time with their families.

Beginning to demonstrate abstract thinking

Sexual awareness and maturation

Communication strategies

Use abstract thinking, but look for nonverbal cues (puzzled face) that

may indicate lack of understanding. Then clarify in more concrete terms.

Offer self and a willingness to listen. Provide value-free, accurate

information

1) Play

2) Storytelling

3) Storywritting

4) Drawing

5) Imaginary friends