Essay Questions Unit 1

Essay Questions Unit 1 Essay Questions Unit 1 Effective communication is fundamental in developing positive relationships with children, young people and adults, whilst maintaining a happy and calm environment and a supportive attitude. Children, young people and adults should be spoken to in a calm and supporting way, they should not be stereotyped or judged on gender, race or ability. All groups should be talked to in a non prejudiced manner, using language that they can understand. Children can sometimes have issues with confidence and trust; by gently praising them in a clear and positive manner, whilst giving supportive instructions and encouragement face to face at their level, trust can be gained and the child will feel confident to communicate back to you. The same applies with young people; as children get older and become more mature they are given more responsibilities. At this stage maintaining a positive relationship is very important; they can discuss concerns that they may have with you or turn to you in a crisis or during a difficulty. Adults need to be spoken to as equals, using language that is not disparaging or judgemental. Effective communication builds trust and trust is the building block for all positive relationships. In schools we need to be able to give and receive information to resolve conflict, get others to carry out tasks, follow instructions and negotiate. 2 Explain the principles of relationship building with children, young people and adults. Building a relationship with a child or young person involves developing relationships with their peers as well as significant adults. Adults need to be positive role models to children as children observe the behaviour of adults, which in turn effects the child’s behaviour and how children deal with their own feelings, other peoples feelings and day to day situations. Interacting positively with other adults and children, encourages children to demonstrate appropriate behaviour and social skills. The acronym SPECIAL reminds us that children need security, praise, encouragement, communication, interaction, acceptance, and love to build a positive relationship. Security provides a child with a feeling of safety. Praise and encouragement which will promote happiness and confidence in a child. Communication and interaction are fundamental in building a relationship as they enable a child to trust you. Children must be communicated and interacted with in a way that is appropriate to their age, ability and needs, and at their level so they feel equal. Acceptance and love also build confidence and are qualities which will be mirrored by children if they are accepted and loved by others. Limits should be set and firm boundaries made with children, families, colleagues and other professionals to build a relationship. Relationships with other adults in a school setting could be with parents or work colleagues. Building relationships with parents requires many of the principles needed in building relationships with children, primarily communication and interaction, but more importantly is listening; if a parent has any concerns or questions, an empathic, supportive attitude is paramount for building an adult relationship. Avoid using technical language or words they may not understand. The ability to identify and resolve conflicts or disagreements are principles of building relationships with young people and adults. It is important to adapt our style of communica tion to deal with different age groups; when speaking with a parent or work colleague it is important to use appropriate language, acknowledge them and not hold any prejudices. Many schools have a form of home-school agreement which outlines what each party should do (parent/guardian and the school). This type of agreement is signed by both parties and builds a supportive relationship with firm boundaries from the onset. 3 explain how social background affects relationships and the way people communicate. Social background can affect a