Child communication

Question 1

What to do when communicating with child

Answer 1

-facial expression
-eye contact
-head nodding
-posture and position
-touch
-physical appearance
-gestures
-distraction techniques

Question 2

Effective comms with child built on….

Answer 2

-empathy
-humour
-rapport
-trust

Question 3

Newborn age

Answer 3

-first few hours

Question 4

Neonate age

Answer 4

first 28 days

Question 5

Infant age

Answer 5

up to 12 mnths

Question 6

Child age

Answer 6

1-12

Question 7

Birth- 6 months communication

Answer 7

-learning to regard the environment,
especially faces
-No stranger anxiety until late in this phase –Nonverbal communication is key
-Facial expressions
-Tone of voice

Question 8

6-12 months communication

Answer 8

-respond to name
-imitates facial and manual gestures
-likes give and take games
-use stimulating objects to catch attention or distract
-use toe to head approach in physical in assessment
-stranger anxiety

Question 9

18 months communication

Answer 9

-talking- around 20 words
-understand simple words and short phrases
-recognise and point to familiar objects when you ask them

Question 10

18 months- 3 yrs communication

Answer 10

-More explorative and adventurous
-Will still shelter with parents
-Will understand more words than they can
say
-Constantly moving
-Play and curiosity are big motivators
-Improved attention span

Question 11

3-6 yrs communication

Answer 11

-very curious
-talkative and enthusiastic
-start to understand we are there to help them
-understand procedures may hurt

Question 12

6-12 yrs communication

Answer 12

-fear of failure, blame, inferiority
-want to blend in
-more body conscious and modest
-may feel pain more intensely
-6- learning to read
-Don’t embarrass them in front of peers
-Don’t tell them not to cry!
-OK to examine but respect their modesty
-Reactions can be under- or over-exaggerated
-Regressive behavior is common
-Don’t lie. Don’t be condescending

Question 13

12 yrs and up

Answer 13

-don’t intentionally lie to them
-respect modesty and privacy
-avoid embarrassing them

Question 14

What parents want you to do

Answer 14

-Treat children as young people
-Learn and use their preferred name
-Keep children as physically and emotionally comfortable as possible
-Basic and advanced pain management is important.
-Try to relieve fear and anxiety as early and as much as possible

Question 15

Non verbal communication

Answer 15

-get to child’s eye level
-make eye contact
-use eyebrows to exaggerate expressions

Question 16

Psychological and non-drug adjuvant treatment methods

Answer 16

-distraction
-rapport
-child friendly enviro
-relaxation techniques
-cover wounds
-splint fractures
-cool burns