Care giving and interpersonal skills
Now we will focus on some of the care-giving strategies and interpersonal skills Nicole can use during the dinosaur experience.
Motivating and encouraging
Think back to a time when you were younger and played various games - some imaginary, some experimental, but all fun. When primary caregivers in your life encouraged you in your play, how did it feel?
Like they really took an interest?
Like they were interfering?
Can't remember?
Even now, it's great, when someone you care about really takes an interest in what you are doing isn’t it? It's quite motivating and encouraging.
Motivating children
When child care staff are working with children, they can try to motivate them by taking a real interest in what they are doing. Whether an experience is play, routine or leisure, there's always an opportunity to offer encouragement.
Motivation can be tricky. What motivates and encourages one person may not do the same for another, so staff need to find a variety of ways to motivate the children they provide care for. These can range from simple words of encouragement, to adding materials and equipment, to being flexible and allowing various extensions of play, or joining in when invited.
Encouraging children
How do you encourage a child to participate in an experience you have planned?
There are many ways you can invite a child to participate:
'Would you like to come with me and have a look at what I have set up for you to play with?'
'Have a look over here!'
'Can you show me how to build a tower?'
'Wow! Look at this!'
These are only a few of the possibilities. Try to take notice of some of the comments you and other staff or fellow students use during a day and reflect on ways you can make what you say even more encouraging or interesting to children. Sometimes children won’t feel like joining in, and that should be respected too.
Remember to show your enjoyment too. Sit with the children and utilise every opportunity to interact and to encourage them in their learning.
As Nicole knows that Curtis is interested in dinosaurs, she is going to put some dinosaur books in the book corner.
How could Nicole let Curtis know that the dinosaur books have been put in the book corner, without just telling him to go and look at them?
Also think about what she might say to Curtis about the books. Using positive phrases like 'What do you like most about dinosaurs?' can provide a place to start the conversation. She can then follow Curtis' lead.
Save or print a copy of Learning experience - Curtis - Dinosaur books (Word 61Kb). The first part is already filled in for you.
Use your ideas to complete the remainder of the sheet, focusing particularly on the Care-giving Strategies and Communication and Interpersonal Skills sections.
Put a copy in your Resource File so you can refer to it later.
Extending the learning experience
How could Nicole expand on the dinosaur book experiences for Curtis?
Have a think about this, then read Extending the children's interest in dinosaurs.
Think about your other observations of Curtis. What else was he interested in? Knowing this means child care staff can design activities to enhance his areas of strength and develop his areas of need.
Design at least two more learning experiences for Curtis, taking into account his interests, strengths and needs. One of the experiences should be a quiet activity, the other an active one.
You can find blank copies of the Learning experience plan in the Forms section of the Intranet.
