Logo
  • About Us
  • News & Blogs
  • CPD
  • Resources
  • Useful Websites & Resources
  • Social Work Jobs
Logo
  • About Us
  • News & Blogs
  • CPD
  • Resources
  • Useful Websites & Resources
  • Social Work Jobs
Type your keywords...
Keywords...

Hit enter to search

Logo
  • About Us
  • News & Blogs
  • CPD
  • Resources
  • Useful Websites & Resources
  • Social Work Jobs
Site Logo
  • About Us
  • News & Blogs
  • CPD
  • Resources
  • Useful Websites & Resources
  • Social Work Jobs
Menu
CPD News & Blogs
1  comment 369  views
0  likes

Communicating with Children

Written By
One Stop Social
Jul 27, 2019
Share This Post
Tags
BlogCarechildhood social workerChildren Looked AfterChildren's ServicesChildrens Social ServicesOne Stop Social Blog

How often do you change your tone of voice or find yourself adjusting your vocabulary when communicating with children? One of the earliest forms of communication for children is the ability to pick up on cues given by adults. Some of these are nonverbal cues, such as a smile, touch, furrowed brow, etc. Others are verbal, and come from reading subtle changes during an interaction, such as inflection and tone of voice. Tone of voice is very important in human interaction, as it tells us more about the topic of conversation than just the words. However, communication is not just about the words you use, but also your manner of speaking, body language and, above all, the effectiveness with which you listen. To communicate effectively it is important to take account of culture and context, for example where English is an additional language.

Good communication is central to working with children, young people, their families and carers. It involves listening, questioning, understanding and responding to what is being communicated by children, young people and those caring for them. To build a rapport with children, young people and those caring for them, it is important to demonstrate understanding, respect and honesty. Continuity in relationships promotes engagement and the improvement of lives.

The importance of listening to children

Children experience a range of problems and worries at home, at school, with their friends and in the community. Some children may talk in a way that ‘normalises’ abuse and neglect because that’s what they have experienced as normal. Alternatively, they may avoid discussing these topics because they are painful to acknowledge or because they’re concerned about the consequences of telling.

With that being said, it is vital that professionals and carers pay attention not only to what the child says, but also to what they are not saying. They also need to pay attention to how the child behaves. Listening to the child’s views will help social workers and others to build a trusting relationship with the child.

The importance of relationships

Looked after children and young people are vulnerable individuals. The experiences that led to placement, including mistreatment or neglect, will have resulted in separation from their birth family which, even if unsafe, was the home they knew. Developing trusting relationships is important for these children to help them build security through attachments. Continuity of relationships is key to helping children construct their identity and develop a strong sense of belonging.

A consistent message is that children value relationships with people who:

  • are always there for them
  • love, accept and respect them for who they are
  • are ambitious for them and help them succeed
  • are willing to go the extra mile, and
  • treat them as part of their family, or part of their life, beyond childhood and into adulthood.

What skills do you need to communicate effectively with children and young people?

In order to communicate effectively with children, social workers need to be confident and have a range of skills. These include:

  • active listening
  • empathising with the child’s point of view
  • developing trusting relationships
  • understanding non-verbal communication
  • building rapport
  • explaining, summarising and providing information
  • giving feedback in a clear way
  • understanding and explaining the boundaries of confidentiality

 

Check out our Children Services resources out here.

In summary, spend some time reflecting on the words you use when communicating with children. Build a rapport, develop a trusting relationship and use language that the child will understand, but above all – listen.

Free direct resources, guides & more

News Search
Social Work Training
OSS Discounts
Get Social Work Insured:
Who We Like:
previous post
Qualities and skills required to be a social worker
July 26, 2019
next post
Seven reasons to become a social worker
July 28, 2019

You May Also Like

featured_image
0
News & Blogs
Old People’s Home for Four-Year-Old’s
One Stop Social Oct 23, 2018
featured_image
2
News & Blogs Resources
Blue Light Card: Social Work discounts online and in store.
ossmembership Feb 13, 2020
featured_image
0
News & Blogs
Ending Violence: the Domestic Abuse Bill
OSS Network Nov 25, 2019

1 Comment

  1. Qualities and skills required to be a social worker - One Stop Social

    Jul 26, 2018 at 2:20 pm

    […] job efficiently. We need to have the ability to speak appropriately to a wide range of people e.g. children, parents, supportive family members and professionals. These will all be tailored at different […]

    Reply
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Us
Footer Logo

Copyright @ 2019 by One Stop Social All Rights Reserved.

  • CPD
  • Resources