JRS Educational Therapy

Wednesday, April 17, 2024 by Julie Stoner | Educational Therapy

Responsive vs. Directive Communication by Play.Learn.Chat

Directive Communication 🧑 ➡️ 👧

A more 'traditional' approach: Often involves instructing children on how to behave, act and respond. Adults are in charge, adults have all the power.

Problems with Directive Communication:

Diminishes experiences: Makes children feel their experiences, feelings and perspectives are unimportant or invalid. Reduces self-concept and self-confidence. This can lead to poor mental health outcomes.

Invalidates feelings: Sends a message that their experience of the world and their own body and mind are not to be trusted, so they loose trust in the messages they perceive. Removes the ability to self-advocate if they can't even figure out what support they should ask for or need.

Responsive Communication🧑 🔄 👧

Empathetic, respectful approach: Focuses on listening (seeing, perceiving... not just with your ears!), viewing the child’s perspective as true for them and valid. Interactions start and continue by following what the child is thinking, telling us, and communicating in any way (behaviors included).

Benefits of Responsive Communication:

Validates experiences: Recognizes the legitimacy of a child’s feelings and perspectives, even if they fluctuate and even if they seem very different to what you would have expected.

Enhances understanding: Encourages a deeper empathy towards what the child is actually experiencing.

Supports self-advocacy: Helps children develop the ability to advocate for themselves by reinforcing their confidence in their own experiences.