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Early Years Teaching Blog

The Voice of a Child

10th May 2022

What does it mean?

It means to express how we go about creating meaningful engagement with our early years children. It means to understand a child and give them the chance to speak.

So why is it important in EYFS?

The voice of a child is so fundamental as it helps the child to feel, valued, supported and listened to. When a child feels valued, it helps them to grow up happy, experiencing life. To feel supported means to feel safe and secure, if a child feels this in an early years setting they are going to feel more at ease and be able to relax, be themselves, feel confident asking questions and asking for help. Actively listening will make the child feel important, that what they say is significant, which will then strengthen their bond with you and others who listen.

Therefore, these factors help the children to develop a sense of belonging and therefore helps to build their confidence to share and voice their opinions which builds skills for life. Not listening and engaging with a child’s opinion from as early as in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) could impact them for the rest of their lives.

What is our role as a professional?

As a professional, our role is to build a picture and a portfolio of the voice of a child as an individual through direct engagement, observations and discussions with parents/carers or family members.

Through direct engagement and observations, you will be able to listen closely to the voice of a child. For example,

 

  • You will be able to listen during their play – you will be able to listen to their imagination evolving, how they interact with other children during different scenarios.

 

  • You will be able to listen to their conversations – with other children and adults in the setting as well as how they interact with their parent and carers, listening to how they respond.

 

  • You will be able to listen to their ideas – shared in small and larger groups as well as their imaginations and opinions grow.How do I encourage the voice of a child? As mentioned previously children who do not feel valued, supported or listened to may struggle to voice their opinions and speak freely. Therefore, it is important that when a child speaks you stop what you are doing and listen carefully to what they are saying, making eye contact at the same time so the child knows that you are listening and engaging with them. When a child speaks let them speak freely, respecting what they say, listening to their opinions and ideas and not judging what they are saying as this can break their confidence.

    We have designed a poster to promote and visualise the importance of listening to and valuing children’s voices, opinions, and ideas within the educational setting. This type of poster can be used in early years classrooms, nurseries, preschools, kindergartens, and early elementary classrooms as part of a broader approach to child-centred education.

    How do I help a child share their voice?

    Some children through no fault of their own may find it harder to share their voice, therefore different techniques need to be used in order to encourage and build confidence for these children.

     

    • Reading together, sharing a story, talking about a story can help a child to share their own similar experiences linked to a story, encouraging them to build their confidence to talk to others.
    • Using puppets can help a child to talk and share their ideas.
    • Using sign language.
    • Drawing pictures can encourage talk.                                                                                                                                                We must remember as professionals, the voice of a child is a huge part of a child’s life; it helps them to grow into confident, happy and well-rounded children. We are here to support and make a child’s dream come true and through their voice we can help them to achieve this by supporting, valuing and listening to our children of today.

     

  • Product Reviews
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05/31/2022
Yasmine
United Kingdom
These are beautifully made and really useful for extending my more able.
05/28/2022
Emma B.
United Kingdom
This training was fantastic. Really made me think and reflect on ways to improve. Just brilliantly honest and straight to the point.
05/19/2022
Charlotte K.
United Kingdom
This is great we have printed it out and we use daily for the Nursery children for a short Phonics activity. It has saved me loads of time and is really well thought out and each activity is clearly explained so the staff know what to do. Each time they teach Phonics they are becoming more...This is great we have printed it out and we use daily for the Nursery children for a short Phonics activity. It has saved me loads of time and is really well thought out and each activity is clearly explained so the staff know what to do. Each time they teach Phonics they are becoming more confident with presenting.
05/08/2022
Miss G.
United Kingdom
This is so helpful to give to parents. A great help. Thanks
05/01/2022
Mary
United Kingdom
This is so amazing thank you so much for making plans appropriate for Early Years!
03/14/2022
jane
United Kingdom
Very please with my purchase, brilliant phonics activities.
01/03/2022
amy
United Kingdom
Really helpful planning - good ideas.
11/23/2021
Jill.R
United Kingdom
Great Book, really helpful phonics planning. Would definitely recommend when teaching phonics to children.
09/20/2021
Mrs C.
United Kingdom
Highly recommend this informative phonics book. Everything you need to know about phase 1 and explained in good detail.
08/06/2021
Jayne
United Kingdom
This was absolutely brilliant, thank you x
04/30/2021
Candela M.
United Kingdom
I love this! Thank you very much, I was wondering if there was an editable version for this please? Does it have all of the development matters objectives?
10/22/2020
Mrs C.
United Kingdom
gREAT PLANNING FOR DIWALI, ESPECIALLY THE MUSIC THAT WE CAN PLAY DURING OUR PE LESSON OR PLAY WHILST WE MAKE OUR RANGOLI PATTERNS OR DIVAS. THANK YOU , A GREAT RESOURCE.
10/02/2020
Claire H.
United Kingdom
This training is superb! Such an important message that all schools need to hear with regards to behaviour management! The science of how the brain works really helps to show how crucial it is to build strong nurturing relationships and how we as adults need to self regulate before we can support...This training is superb! Such an important message that all schools need to hear with regards to behaviour management! The science of how the brain works really helps to show how crucial it is to build strong nurturing relationships and how we as adults need to self regulate before we can support children to do the same. Some powerful thought provoking messages about how we need to respond to children's emotions and behaviours and some great tips to try to support children's wellbeing. Thank you for this fabulous training.
09/16/2020
Mary S.
United Kingdom
I am an NQT and in Reception for the first time, this is so helpful for me to teach my children the basics and ease gently into phonics to ensure all of my children are ready before we start phase 2. Thank you so much for making my life easier!
08/26/2020
Debbie
United Kingdom
This PPT is great. Could you give me an idea of the tune to the goodbye song please. Thank you, Debbie
08/25/2020
Jill
United Kingdom
Great resource
03/27/2020
Jorgia H.
United Kingdom
I loved this and enjoyed making something for the birds in the garden. We watched them eat it and used the bird spotting sheet to see which type of birds they are.
03/11/2020
Jane
United Kingdom
This is a really helpful display.
03/07/2020
Claire
United Kingdom
Thank you for creating these. They look perfect for exploring pattern and loose parts play. I will be printing these to use in my class asap. I love the patterns use loose parts as well as natural resources too!
03/06/2020
Lisa
Hong Kong SAR China
Great sound mat. good detail
03/05/2020
Claire
United Kingdom
These statements are fab for using on display and save teachers so much time! I will be printing these and getting them up in my new displays asap!
01/17/2020
Rebecca
Spain
Lovely handout to give to parents , every parent should read this ! Thanks.
12/13/2019
Bonnie
United Kingdom
I love these cards, lovely pictures and great for my children to use with sentence writing.
11/28/2019
Zoe.H
United Kingdom
Thanks. Going to use these cards today.
11/15/2019
Rachel
United Kingdom
Thanks for creating this Bingo resource. Any plans to create more suffix word resources ?
10/23/2019
jenny
Japan
Just download, got some great planning ideas. Thanks.
10/01/2019
Sara-Jayne
These are an excellent resource, as you can adapt for what you need in your setting. thank you.
08/28/2019
Miss G.
These are great, just what I've been looking for.
08/26/2019
Heather R.
would highly recommend this resource to any year 1 teachers. It's got everything you need.
08/26/2019
Zoe M.
Just printed this off, thanks - just what I was looking for.
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