I was in Target earlier this week as usual picking up a few things for my house as well as getting a start on Christmas shopping. As I walked down each aisle grabbing what I needed I came across a lady and a young girl. The little girl was sitting in the shopping cart playing with a doll that resembled one of the characters from the Disney movie "Frozen". I could not tell if the lady pushing the cart was her mother but I just assumed it was someone close to the child. As the lady grabbed items off the shelf I noticed that she would address the child by name and then tell her what the item was she was placing in the cart. I did not think much of it at first but then I reflected on the assignment for this week. The child looked as if she was only 2 or 3 but she would try to repeat the name of the item as they went into the basket. I immediately refelected on the articles we read this week and I knew that this lady used her shopping experience as a teachable moment. In the media segment Lisa Kolbeck made a point to address both children by name as well as the animal they wanted to be during action play. Addressing the child by name helped them to understand that they were important to the conversation and what they had to say wanted to be heard. Children will engage in conversation if they know that they are important to what is going on and if there is someone there that will listen.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Communicating with young children. Baltimore, MD: Author
That seems like a great way to engage a child during a somewhat boring trip to the store, what a nice tip! It seems like this mother has some good ideas up her sleeve! Have you used a similar approach ever in your classroom or work environment?
ReplyDeleteHi Kami
ReplyDeleteThis was very good analysis of the little girl and the adult. There are various ways of helping children develop at normal levels and I feel that this was a good way. This will also allow the little girl to increase her vocabulary and learn about new things at the same time. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Kami,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful observation! I remember when my niece was young and she imitated everything I said or did. When we would go to the store, I always took her down the aisles reading everything we saw out loud to her. She is a wonderful speller now and I think those experiences helped shape her.
Really enjoyed your post!