Communication skills are more than just talking. Our body language, how we walk, how we sit, what our eyes look like, where we are looking, how we have our arms, what we do with our face is called non-verbal communication but it is just as important as what we say.
We need to develop children's communication skills, but it is important that educators also have good communication skills, especially non-verbal ones.
Under the Support Children's Play and Learning unit of the Cert 3, it provides that educators must "interact with children showing enthusiasm, playfulness and enjoyment" and in the Provide Positive and Respectful Relationships Unit, educators must "role model positive interactions with others".
One way Kate can demonstrate positive interactions is by having positive body language. So for example slouching and looking down all the time might tell people you don't want to talk to them but smiling and looking a person in the eye tells them you care about them and what they have to say.
Here are some tips that Kate has practiced but should keep practicing on how to have positive body language in an early childhood environment
Confident walking with chin up and shoulders back
Smile often and mean it
Say hello to people
Look people in the eye when talking to them
When other people are talking to you, sit up straight and show the person your are listening by reacting to what they are saying with your face
Sparkly eyes
Try not to fidget or suckle when people are talking to you.
Apart from having positive body language ourselves, it is important to be able to read other people's body language, especially children's or the people we work with. It can help us decide whether we should approach a person or not. Maybe they are grumpy but maybe they are just tired and don't want to speak.
Reflection No 1: You saw a colleague (let's call her Jane) in the staff room. Jane is sitting slumped on the couch, frowning. When you walk in, you say "hi" to Jane but she looks away and doesn't say hi back to you. What do you think Jane's body language is telling you? Write down your answers in your notebook and discuss this question with your coach.
Reflection No 2: Look at the photo of the two volunteers above. What does their body language tell you? Have a look at their faces, the way they are standing, what they are doing with their hands. Write down your answers in your notebook.
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