Title: Demonstrate developmentally appropriate communication skills between a caregiver adult and a child.
Course: Child Development and Parenting (19255-36)

Demonstration should include

- roleplaying between a parent and a child illustrating communication that would encourage or hinder development at each stage
- strategies that promote positive self-esteem, such as providing words and other forms of encouragement and delivering messages of affirmation and unconditional love
- techniques for effective listening (e.g., body language, eye contact, being at the child’s level)
- strategies for overcoming barriers to constructive communication.

Teacher Resources:

- Classroom Strategies – ECE Resource Hub, Center for the Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL), University of Virginia
- School Readiness and Early Childhood Classroom Learning, VDOE
- Take-Home Strategies - ECE Resource Hub, Center for the Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning (CASTL), University of Virginia

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- Why is effective communication important in forming positive parent-child relationships?
- How does a parent's communication with their child affect development?
- Why is it important to talk to newborns and infants even though they cannot talk back?
- How do newborns and infants communicate with others?

Communication

- What are the characteristics of good parent-child communication?
- Where do individuals acquire attitudes and beliefs about good parent-child communication?
- What types of nonverbal communication can parents and caregivers use to encourage children?
- Why is it important for children to feel safe when communicating with parents?

Leadership

- What part do I-messages play in positive parent-child communication?
- What factors determine one’s listening abilities? How can parents improve listening skills?

Management

- What information do individuals need to demonstrate appropriate communication skills to use with children at varying growth and development stages?
- What communication skills do parents need to teach a child a new skill, to correct behavior, to deny a child's request, to praise a child's accomplishments?
- What communication style do your parents use with you? What communication styles will you use with your future children? How are these styles similar and different?