This mother did an excellent job communicating with her baby and listening to her baby's communication. They were in tune with each other and focused on each other. "Talking to a baby requires you to: acknowledge the baby by name, wait for the baby's response, include your observation of the baby's response in your next message, say what you see or think you see and include those responses" (Kovach & Da Ros-Voseles, 2011, p. 49). In order to improve this communication even further, the mother could have talked more to the baby about what she was doing with her during tasks of caring, such as diaper changing time. "Describing your actions with words helps the baby to understand and anticipate your next move" (Kovach & Da Ros-Voseles, 2011, p. 49).
"Relationships are the most important ingredient that fuels the baby and assures the baby's optimum health in his first year of life"(Kovach & Da Ros-Voseles, 2011, p. 49). By talking directly to an infant, using there name when speaking to them, and utilizing touch to reassure them, infants develop self-worth (Kovach & Da Ros-Voseles, 2011). By really listening closely to her baby's cues, this mother is quickly learning about her baby's likes and dislikes and respecting her individual personality (Kovach & Da Ros-Voseles, 2011).
Through this observation assignment and the readings this week I learned how important it is to communicate directly to infants and listen closely to their responses. Often their responses are nonverbal gestures mixed with sounds other than words, therefore it requires very close listening from the adult (Kovach & Da Ros-Voseles, 2011). I think I could improve my communication with infants by using their names more often and by not talking about them to other adults while they are listening. If I am talking about them, but not including them in the conversation it may appear to them that I am ignoring them and do not value them (Kovach & Da Ros-Voseles, 2011). I realized recently that I do not have as much experience working with infants as I do with adults and other age groups, so I have a lot to improve on! I am not as comfortable talking to infants as I would like to be, and I am going to spend more time in the infant room at work to start practicing.
Reference:
Kovach, B., & Da Ros-Voseles, D. (2011).
Communicating with babies. YC: Young Children,
66(2),
48-50.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteYou have some great reflections on infant communication. Your reflection reminded me of a training video I used to show to a group of home providers. The video was about parents and other adults communicating to babies while recognizing when the baby has had enough stimulation. I found it so amazing how the doctor in the video pointed out the non-verbal cues the baby presented. He pointed out how the baby would look away or make certain faces indicating she was done with the interaction. Babies have so much more developing than I think many adults ever realize.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great observation. I know that bond between an infant and mother is very important. I tell my infant teachers that even their bonds with the infants they care for is important. I make sure that my teachers know to talk to the babies all the time. I even make sure my toddler and two year old teachers are talking with the children. I tell them it's very important for the bonding processes and so the children's language development.
What I think people do not realize is that babies can communicate. They may not be able to use words, but if adults pay attention they can understand what babies want and need by just observing that baby. Babies even have different cries for the different wants and needs they have such as hunger, thirst, needing sleep, boredom, being in pain and so on. I think some people become frustrated with babies because they simply do not understand how babies communicate.
ReplyDelete