Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

The Do’s and Don’ts of Communicating with Children

In this activity, you will:

 Look at what to do and what not to do when communicating with children

Facilitator’s notes:

When you start this activity, briefly review the lists of qualities, knowledge, and skills of good
communicators that were developed in Activity 3. In this activity you will develop a list ofdo’s
and don’tsfor communicating with children.

Examples for Do’s when communicating with children:

• Do be patient. Children will tell or show you what they are ready to show or tell you.
  Try to move at their pace.


• Do show interest in the child. Children will feel valued if you show interest in their lives.


• Do be open and honest with facts. If you give information, be accurate and precise.


• Do maintain a non-judgemental attitude. CCC members are not trained to be judges of
  vulnerable child’s situation, but to offer badly-needed emotional support.


• Do be empathetic. Put yourself in the shoes of a child and try to understand what they feel.


• Do maintain confidentiality and privacy. Don’t share sensitive information except when
  necessary to help the child.


• Do maintain a calm and approachable manner.


• Do maintain a caring attitude.


• Do show acceptance of the child and what he or she is telling you.


• Do practise individualisation. This involves treating each child as an individual rather than
  comparing them or seeing them as case studies.


• Do plan ahead for difficult questions, the child’s emotional responses, and ways to help.


• Do factor in differing perceptions, especially if the child and counsellor have different
  backgrounds, knowledge and experience.


• Do use the local language, so that children and their families can understand.


• Do understand and maintain control of your own emotions. Refer the child to someone
  else if you feel your emotional involvement is endangering your ability to help him or her.


• Do network with other CCC members for personal support and guidance.


• Do know your limits and strengths.


• Do try to develop good listening skills. Use ‘ROLES’:
  
  
  • R — Relax
  
  
  • O — Open
  
  
  • L — Lean forward
  
  
  • E — Eye contact
  
  
  • S — Sit at the same level as the child.
  
  
  
  


• Do develop good question and answer techniques. For eaxmple, use open-ended questions.
  Make sure you understand a child’s question and what he/she already knows or understands
  before answering.


• Do summarise and clarify what a child has told you.

Activity 4

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Unit 2, Module 2^181