Communication and Key Characteristics of Practice

In this session we think about the way in which we communicate with children and young people and the challenges involved when working with those who are experiencing vulnerability and risk. We build on the themes of child development and attachment in the context of communication – the way in which the care giving adults communicate with the child will have significant impact on how they grow and develop attachments. We consider the following questions: What do the principles of good communication with children and young people involve? What are the links that exist between communication and child development? Explain the relationship between touch and communication. What are the links between communication, power and oppressive language? We then go onto think about the ways in which we might intervene in the lives of children and young people who are experiencing vulnerability and risk. We consider the following questions: What traditions of child care practice/intervention exist and what are some of their key characteristics? What is the role of love within caring for vulnerable children and what does this mean for professional boundaries? How can we think about using activities and promoting resilience as we work with vulnerable children? How can we safely challenge and resist pressure to be increasingly risk averse