Methods for Listening and Engaging with Children's Perspectives

This assignment delves into two primary methods for listening to and understanding children's perspectives: role play and children's photography. The paper describes each method, outlining how they can be used to support effective listening and engagement with children. Role play involves children acting out scenarios, allowing observation of their expressions, behaviors, and communication styles. Children's photography encourages children to capture their surroundings, revealing their interests and priorities through the images they choose. The assignment also discusses the potential issues associated with each method, such as time constraints in role play and difficulties using devices in photography, alongside strategies to mitigate these challenges. The paper concludes by explaining the benefits of these methods, highlighting how role play fosters communication and understanding, while photography allows children to express their perspectives visually. The assignment emphasizes the importance of these methods in recognizing children's needs and supporting their overall development.

Ways of listening and
getting ready

Table of Contents
QUESTION 1...................................................................................................................................1
Description of what using the two methods involves and how each can be used to support
listening and engagement with children’s perspectives...............................................................1
QUESTION 2 ..................................................................................................................................2
Discussion of the issues that can arise from using each method and that need to be considered
before they are used.....................................................................................................................2
QUESTION 3 ..................................................................................................................................3
Explanation of why you think the two methods will be particularly useful to support listening 3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
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QUESTION 1
Description of what using the two methods involves and how each can be used to support
listening and engagement with children’s perspectives
It is very essential to identify and understand children needs so that it can be fulfilled in
effective way. For this active listening is required so that their skills and knowledge are
identified. Moreover, by engaging with them child behaviour is observed and their view points
are determined. There are various methods through which children perspective can be gained. It
helps in engaging with them through effective communication and listening. Here, role play and
children photography is used to support listening.
Role play – It is a game in which individual are asked to assume himself as another person and
play their role. In this a person behaves or act for an adopted role (Role play. 2018). This activity
is generally played in a group and in theatre or auditorium.
Through this, it becomes easy to understand expression of children, their behaviour in
role play, etc. Also, with help of it their efforts and values are reflected that supports in
evaluating their performance. This helps in getting a clear view about how child performed role
of another person. Moreover, parents are able to identify bad and goods signs of children. A
story stem approach was adopted where children are given a scenario to act on it (Platteuw,
2011, cited in Clark , 2017 p-52). Furthermore, it is easy to recognise likes and dislikes of
children in role play. The most important aspect of role play is children feedback is taken. From,
it, certain practices can be followed to engage with them. It also enables in finding out how
children communicate and socialise with others. Similarly, parents also engage socially with
them by active listening.
Children photography – This is an activity in which children take photographs of surroundings.
They photos are of a specific thing. In this a camera or smart phone is given to children to take
photos. Here, each photo reveal something that a child wants to show (Photography for children.
2018). With help of this, it becomes easy to engage with them. By this method children
perspective is identified. The photographs taken by them convey specific message and
information (Walker, 1993, cited in Clark, 2017 p-46). By collecting all photos children
perspective is identified. Also, for each photo child views are listened.
In this activity a photobook is made which enables in getting brief description about
photo. Also, parents are able to determine interest of child by asking them to select important
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one. Thus, it supports in finding out their priorities. Moreover, by seeing photos children
expression are observed. So, it is useful in recognising things from which child fears. In addition
to it, child artistic creativity can be identified (Importance of children photography. 2014). The
colours, visuals, etc. they like is noticed and how it can help in engaging with them can be easily
find out. Alongside it, by displaying them photos, children overall reaction is observed. Their
needs are listened by engaging with them.
QUESTION 2
Discussion of the issues that can arise from using each method and that need to be considered
before they are used
It was easy to get engage with children by using above activities. But there can occur
several issues which can arise from each one. The issues can create a negative impact on child
mind as well as on their growth and development. Overall, the assessment is done to differentiate
between the pros and cons while adopting these methods to channelise the children young minds.
Therefore, it is essential to eliminate them so that there is no influence on child engagement.
There are various issues that can occur in each method which is defined below :-
Role play-
Limited time – This is the most common issue that arises in role play. The lack of time restricts
children to perform quickly. Due to it, they might not be able to play their role. Also, sometimes
many children hesitate and starts crying. Moreover, their response gets restricted in terms of not
having clarity and awareness while performing any specific role.
Change in behaviour – When enacting in role play, a child may become stubborn. It can impact
on his growth in negative way. The child may not like to engage with anyone. Also, child may
not compromise in critical situations. Additionally, in adverse situations or challenging
conditions, kids tend to behave in an inappropriate manner and are either gets stubborn or
become silent. Their response move towards a more disordered and violent manner.
Lack of social skills – The child may become addicted to a particular group. So, when they get
chance to work with another group, children may refuse or not actively participate in performing
activities. This impacts on their growth and development. They become socially awkward and
also it takes time for them to communicate or express their opinions in public or in front of their
family or relatives.
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Unable to differentiate real and imaginary world -They find it difficult to understand that
fictional characters or scenario made are not real. Thus, they start living in dream world and is
unable to differentiate. So, their behaviour changes and parents are not able to engage with them
properly. The child becomes rude and stubborn. Due to ineffective listening child growth is
affected.
Children photography
Difficulty in using devices– The children might be unable to use camera or device for clicking
photos as they are now aware about such things. Moreover, kids are not accustomed to
understand the functionalities behind devices like cameras, lens or memory card and henceforth,
it is difficult for them to use it effectively. Also, it might lead to any damage or breakage
resulting in financial loss.
Difficult to recognise perspective- The child may not be able to express his views regarding a
photograph. It means they may take any photo but don’t know about it. In this situation it
becomes difficult to engage and listen them. Besides this, children are not able to differentiate
between things and what is right or wrong. It leads to ineffective stimuli response rate that might
hamper their understanding levels and affect their mental well-being in terms of showing signs of
erratic behaviour, stubbornness etc.
Deviation in response- this issue can arise in children photography. In this the child may get
deviated to other things such as playful acts and incompletion of task. It may also result in non
seriousness of child in method due to presence of external factors. As children may get attracted
or curious about anything during photography, so this might impact on their mental health.
QUESTION 3
Explanation of why you think the two methods will be particularly useful to support listening
By using the above methods, it will be easy to listen to children and support them. Also,
it helps in recognising perspective of child and their likes and dislikes. It is explained below :-
Role play- It will help in finding out how children communicate or play their role. Also, through
this it will help in listening to their problems which they faced (Play and learning environment.
2018). By practically implementation child nature, action, expressions, etc. can be noted. In
addition, it helps in understanding how children sees the imaginary world. This helps parents in
providing support to them in the future. Role play includes team work, communication, etc. by
this, it becomes easy to identify situation where child needs support. It increases the stimuli
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response of kids brain and assist in developing their cognitive abilities. In addition, role play has
to be involved in the curriculum to channelise the skills like collaboration, team work and help in
building confidence and creativity skills. This triggers the imagination power among children by
encouraging them to foster their energies into constructive tasks. This can be made better by
improving the training and rehearsing sessions. Moreover, it helps in assessing the creative
minds of young people and help in knowing their strengths and weaknesses.
However, it failed in establishing a formal system with adherence in knowing the
significance of rules, policies and legislation. Thus, it must be followed under a regulated
framework to channelise the young minds proficiently and help them to turn into professionals
by having a bright future.
Children photography - This method will be useful in observing interest area of children.
Through photos clicked their perspective can be identified. Furthermore, it will assist in
analysing the behaviour of child towards a particular thing. Beside this, it helps in evaluating
visual skills of via listening. Children communicate their ideas, thoughts, etc. thus parents are
able to support them. It also enable parents to identify what child
The method can be improved by allowing children to describe each picture by writing so
that they can express their views openly. Then, it will be easy to listen to them. Alongside it,
through a picture book children perspective can be identified. It will help in analysing their
mental ability.
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REFERENCES
Online
Photography for children. 2018. [online] Available through : <
https://www.theschoolrun.com/photography-children-benefits>
Importance of children photography. 2014. [online] Available through : <
https://www.rohanmishraphotography.com/blog/2014/6/the-importance-of-children-
photography>
Role play. 2018. [online] Available through : < https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/role-
play >
Play and learning environment. 2018. [online] Available through:
https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/53567_ch_10.pdf
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