Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

How Children Communicate

Handout 2 - Module 2 Topic 4

Children use the following means to communicate:

 Body language

 The language of play

 Spoken / verbal language

 Silence – this could mean that the child feels too overwhelmed

to communicate their experience.

Children may hesitate to discuss their problems for a variety of

reasons, such as:

 Children may feel embarrassed or ashamed talking about issues related to

sex, HIV/AIDS, and death because these are perceived culturally as

taboo subjects.

 Children may be too young to put their feelings or experiences into

words.

 Some cultures forbid children to question or disagree with adults.

 Children fear hurting those they love. They might hide their feelings in

order to protect their parents or teachers, and adults in general,

particularly if these adults are unhappy.

Some indirect, but fun and non-threatening ways of helping a child

to communicate are:

 Drawing

 Storytelling

 Drama

 Playing games.

Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Appendix 1, Handouts^319