Stories of Listening: Gabby & Goldie (age 2)

The video Beautiful Conversations follows a small group of older toddlers negotiating play with a yellow ball. What transpired during the exchange was a delightful conversation in which the toddlers used hand gestures, babbles, and movements to gain the attention of their companions. When rewatching and documenting the video, I began to create a list of questions about what I was watching: how were the children engaging with each other? What did I see and hear while I listened to the children? What languages were the children using with each other? This observation of the children playing changed how I viewed and understood children’s communication styles. The children collaborated, communicated, and engaged with each other in a back-and-forth exchange that flowed easily.  Listening differently is more than just what we hear; listening differently is a sensory experience that includes what we see or feel. Approaching how children communicate with this subtle mindset shift changes and opens up our understanding of children's capabilities and competencies as effective communicators.