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Tips For Talking With Children: Judy Jablon and Charlotte Stetson

This document provides tips for having conversations with young children. It suggests making sure both parties get a turn, using facial expressions and comments to show interest, pausing after speaking to allow children time to think, describing what you observe children doing, inviting children to teach activities, asking open-ended questions, and connecting conversations to individual children's interests and experiences.

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Amitaf Nuestro Bagnol
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185 views

Tips For Talking With Children: Judy Jablon and Charlotte Stetson

This document provides tips for having conversations with young children. It suggests making sure both parties get a turn, using facial expressions and comments to show interest, pausing after speaking to allow children time to think, describing what you observe children doing, inviting children to teach activities, asking open-ended questions, and connecting conversations to individual children's interests and experiences.

Uploaded by

Amitaf Nuestro Bagnol
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Tips for Talking

with Children
Judy Jablon and Charlotte Stetson

Conversations with children help me


understand how they think, feel, and process
information. As we talk together, I get to
know each child. They get to know me.
This creates strong, trusting connections
between us that help me promote learning.
—Carol Agahan, Preschool Teacher, Louisiana

8 TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN VOL 1 NO 1


See how much happens in this short conversation: In less than a minute, this teacher learns that four-year-old
Lucy feels confident and proud about helping her mother
Lucy: I helped Mommy make muffins. We had ‘gredients.
bake, is working on number concepts and measurement, and
Teacher: What ingredients did you use? is eager to talk and share stories. In response, Lucy’s teacher
Lucy: I poured the flour and stirred the egg. Know what? plans a cooking activity, adds a new counting game to the
The flour got on me and the floor. math area, and writes a note to herself to read Blueberries for
Teacher: Then what happened? Sal, by Robert McCloskey, with Lucy.
Through this brief chat, Lucy is learning new words and
Lucy: We put blueberries in the bowl, 100 cups!
how to form sentences. She is learning how to listen. These
Teacher: That’s a lot of blueberries. are skills Lucy—and all children—will build on as they learn to
Lucy: I put them in all by myself. read and write.

Here are ten tips for having good conversations with young children.

1
Make sure both people get a turn. A
5
Ask children to tell you their stories.
8
Ask open-ended questions. Children
conversation doesn’t have to be long, When Liana shows you her new shoes, can then come up with a variety of
but it does have to involve taking turns you could say, “I see you have new red answers. For example, ask, “What are
talking and listening. Aim to switch shoes. Tell me about your trip to the some things you notice about the guinea
speakers at least five times. store to buy them.” pig?” Avoid questions with one-word an-
swers: “What color is that?” “How many

2
Use facial expressions and comments.
6
Talk about books. After reading time,
peas do you have on your plate?” Ques-
tions like these stop the conversation.

They show you are listening and inter-


ested in the child’s ideas and comments.
Nod your head, smile, or laugh. Add
ask children “What did you like about
that story? What didn’t you like?” “Who
does that character remind you of?
9
Encourage self-expression. Some chil-
“Mm-hmm,” “Really?” or “Tell me more Why?” “There was one part that made dren express their opinions freely; oth-
about that.” us all laugh. What else did you think ers need to be asked their views. “What
was funny in the story?” do you think about this artwork?” “Why

3 7
do/don’t you like today’s snack?”

Pause after you say something. This


gives children time to think and focus
on their ideas.
Invite children to teach you how to
do something. Children may simply
10
Connect the conversation to the child.
demonstrate, but as they do, you can You can refer to a child’s home life,

4
Describe what you see children doing.
carry on the conversation. “Tell me how
you draw houses. I see you are making
some straight lines. Oh, and squares for
previous events, or other things you’ve
talked about. On Monday morning, say
to Marc, “You were excited about going
Young children often talk as they draw, the windows.” to your grandpa’s birthday party this
paint, and build. Say, “I notice you are weekend. Tell me all about it.”
using a lot of orange paint. What made
you decide to use that color?” “What
does your painting remind you of?”

I really value conversations with


children because they’re
© ELLEN B. SENISI

Try this . . . Challenge yourself to fascinating, honest, and real.


have a conversation with each child —Louis Mark Romei,
in your classroom at least once a day. Preschool Teacher, New Jersey

FOR THE PRESCHOOL PROFESSIONAL TYC.NAEYC.ORG 9

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