Raising a child is one of the most fulfilling experiences some people feel they have in their lives. Whether it is teaching them to carry on the traditions of generations past, helping them become changemakers for the future, or encouraging them to appreciate every single day, there are so many aspects to parenting. As many of you know, it goes by in a blink.
Teaching Through Actions
There are many things we teach as we raise our children, from tying shoes and using a spoon, to doing laundry and learning to use a grill (later in life). What we don’t always realize is that we teach so much through our actions and interactions. For example, we often hear that children replicate our kindness in acts such as holding doors open, letting pedestrians go first at a crosswalk, tipping, and saying please and thank you.
The Power of Communication
Another thing we teach, often without thinking about it, is how we communicate. Communication skills are the backbone of any successful relationship, personal or professional. When children struggle with speech, language, or communication, it can impact their self-esteem, social skills, and academic performance.
Personal Insights
With a background in social work and marketing, I pay particular attention to the ways people communicate. You may have heard, for example, that nonverbal communication is often more important than the words themselves. As a mom of a child who struggled with communication, I learned the importance of being able to articulate needs through words, signs, pictures, or any other gestures.
Communication: A Vital Skill
Speech is simply a form of communication—one that many of us take for granted every single day.
Communication is the active process of exchanging information and ideas. Communication involves both understanding and expression. Forms of expression may include personalized movements, gestures, objects, vocalizations, verbalizations, signs, pictures, symbols, printed words, and output from augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices.
Bottom line: When individuals communicate effectively, they can express needs, wants, feelings, and preferences that others can understand.
Our Mission at The Orange Effect Foundation
Here at The Orange Effect Foundation, the goal is to ensure that every child can communicate. Join us in making this a reality for all children.
