The tiny tots at the St Giles’ Nursery School are learning that communication is much more than speaking.
From January this year they discovered why people communicate, its importance, methods of communication, devices which help people to communicate, persons who work in the communication industry, and how to develop and understand the term communication.
However, at the official launch of the Communcation – I Can Communite project at the Ivy, St Michael school this morning, Senator Darcy Boyce enlightened them about the importance of the messages being conveyed.
He urged them never to communicate untruths, and furthermore he asked them not to say or do something unless it was going to help someone else.
“When you are to communicate, you have to think about the other person. You have to understand what state of mind that person is in, what mood they are in . . . . You also have to understand how you yourself feel before you try to tell somebody something. How you feel will affect what you say. If you feel angry you will use angry words, if you feel vexed or frustrated you will use words that are vexing and frustrating.
“If you feel good and happy you will use words that [ are happy]. So you don’t just communicate at any time. You have to understand how you yourself feel before you try to talk to somebody and tell them something,” Boyce said as he congratulated the school for teaching the children such a life lesson.
“Communicating doesn’t mean only talking . . . [it is] how you deliver the message; how you tell people something. There are times when you can’t prepare yourself . . . that is when you see the character of people coming out. What you have practised in your life comes out in emergency situations. If you have practised communicating well, it comes out when you are in a situation of emergency; and the language you use then and the way you conduct yourself says a whole lot more about your character than you will ever imagine,” he said.
The Minister responsible for telecommunications in the Prime Minister’s Office further warned the mostly young audience that lack of good communication would then lead to confusion.
Boyce said: “Chances are you will end up vexed, frustrated, angry, aggressive and withdrawn. In other words, you will not be the happy person you used to be. You pull away, you snap at people, you go by yourself in a corner, sit down and don’t talk to people, you frown all the time –– just because you have not been able to get people to understand what you want to tell them, get them do what you want them to do.
“And out of those conditions come other more violent behaviours; the aggression, the frustration, they all lead to other behaviour that is not in the best interest of anyone.”
Teacher Fiona Ifill said the purpose of the project was to build awareness of the importance of communication in the daily lives of the students at an early age. The children, ages three and four, were divided into six groups: the Significant Signers, Roving Reporters, Brilliant Broadcasters, Busy Bookworms, Dynamic Dancers, and Sensational Singers. They were provided with the opportunity to explore the different methods of communication through dance, song, journalism, sign language, reading and movements.
The youngsters will also be made aware of the various devices used in communication, as well as the people who work in the communication industry. By the end of this unit, the staff hoped students would be able to show appreciation for good communication in and out of school. The project continues until July with educational tours, visits from personnel in the communication industry, finger plays, pantomimes, puppetry and singing, among other things.
kimberleycummins@barbadostoday.bb
