Clinical Child Psychology

Every child needs communication to help promote their learning and development. Every child needs a good listener and eye contact when talking.

Personal, social and emotional development is linked with communication development, because both are based in the formation of relationship. Children experience difficulties when they are not being able

To be able to effectively communicate with children you need to be aware of there age and level of development and adapt yourself where necessary.

Children are social learners and it is crucial that all adults working with them need to model good communication through listening and speaking which will aid the development of the child’s friendships, confidence and self-esteem.

When communicating with children, a number of skills need to be demonstrated to communicate effectively. Children learn to communicate through the responses of others, if they feel they have not had there contributions valued they are less likely to initiate communication themselves appropriate responses reinforce the child’s self-esteem, values this is important in building relationships initiating conversations and finding out the answers to questions builds on the language skills that are integral to child’s learning. In the setting working with children with

A three year-old girl is crying in an office because her father molested her. Her little round face is red and swollen while her mother rocks her back and forth in her lap. The mother asks, “What can you do doctor?” The psychologist’s heart is breaking with every tear shed from the young child’s big eyes. It takes a lot of strength to witness pain such as this. A child psychologist has to go through extensive schooling, mental and emotional preparation, and must have personal dedication.

The skills needed to communicate with children are both verbal and non-verbal, getting down to a child’s level and maintaining eye contact and asking appropriate questions, making the child feel secure and developing trust. A smile, a nod or a thumbs up will also show you are interested in what they are saying. Listening and not interrupting them when they are speaking is vital so they can express their points of view and develop confidence in themselves, making sure that if someone is talking to you to give them your full attention, even if that means finding a quiet suitable place with no distractions. Being supportive to the child’s needs can build respect and trust between the child and adult also giving feedback in a clear, constructive way, so the child can feel they can develop with confidence.

As child practitioners we must work on our skills in communicating with children because the way we communicate with them is important not only for their communication and language development, but also the development of our relationship with them. Young children often aren't able to express their thoughts and feelings in words, or express them poorly. Because of this, it's important that child practitioners can listen carefully and help children to learn how to express themselves and also provide what they need.

Psychology is diverse, and there are many diverse specialty areas available to individuals seeking a career in the field of psychology. Most Psychologists choose to specialize in subfields that focus on specific subjects. Obtaining a profession in any of the specialty areas would require graduate study in that area of interest. Some professionals have a broad general knowledge, are skilled in several areas, and work with a range of clients. Some are specialist in treating a specific type of psychological disorder, or work with a specific age group. For those interested in specializing in a psychology career, developmental Psychology is one of the many fields available.

When communicating with children, it is important to talk at their level while maintaining eye contact and use positive body language. We must give them time to understand and absorb what is being said to them. This will make the children feel respected and develop trust and thus they will feel confident to communicate with us. The child’s learning and development will benefit if the adults in their life can communicate effectively about them.

Social and emotional development of babies and young children should be encouraged. This can be done through activities provided at any childcare settings or within the home. They should be given opportunities to interact with other children and adults. For example, they should play with their parents and have playdates with other children

Effective communication is important in developing positive relationships with children and young adults because it helps the child to be able to communicate effectively with other people as they grow. Children react better to clear, concise communication and this in turn will help to build better relationships between child and adult and enable trust to grow, which is one of the key elements in building a relationship. It is also important to listen to the child and let them say what they want to say. Do not try to pre-empt or interrupt them. Try to keep your language and explanation simple and to the point. Make them feel that what

I have learned that being able to utilise good communication skills is fundamental when working with children. It is so important to building and supporting ongoing relationships, which, along with listening,

Another effective way of improving social skills is by engaging in conversation with the child as much as possible. It is important not to just ask them yes or no questions but to prompt them to express themselves, to engage in telling stories. In the long run, this can help with such aspects of conversational skills as paying more attention when someone is talking to them, being actively engaged in conversation by taking turns and taking into consideration what the other person is thinking, showing interest and staying on topic (Chin & Bernard-Opitz,

Good communication is very important when working with children, young people, their families and carers. By being able to communicate effectively I am making sure that I am understood and understanding too. People, especially children respond well to positive communication, and by being able to communicate effectively with children I