Professional Communication for Early Childhood Educators : Interpersonal and Workplace Communication in Everyday Practice

Quality early childhood education requires educators to develop strong relationships with children, families, colleagues, and professional and community stakeholders. Integral to the building and maintaining of such relationships is effective interpersonal and workplace communication. Communicating with diverse individuals and groups within and external to the early childhood setting, requires proficiency in skills that include active listening, showing empathy, being assertive, interviewing, managing conflict, managing change, and working in teams. Through developing interpersonal and workplace communication skills, educators gain capacity to practice as intentional and effective communicators in complex and dynamic teaching environments.