Clearer communication

Clearer communication can make all the difference when bullying happens. It is a good idea to make sure that you communicate well with young people in everyday life, not just when there's a crisis.

 If you regularly talk to children and young people about how they are feeling, it should make it easier for them to approach you when there is a problem.

Some young people with learning disabilities need extra support to get 
their message across. Everyone is different, but here are some ideas to make communication easier. Some of these ideas are designed with people who cannot communicate verbally in mind, but they may be useful for anyone who feels uncomfortable talking about their feelings

• Picture Boards- For young people who do not communicate verbally, try using picture boards. It is a good idea to use the boards
  read a case study of how picture boards are used at NCH short breaks
• Using props - Some children may find it useful to use dolls or puppets to role play or demonstrate what has happened.
• Drawing pictures - some young people might like to draw or paint pictures about what has happened and how they feel. These could be figurative ( pictures that show real life scenes) or abstract (pictures that show colours or shapes that represent feelings).
• Many young people with learning disabilities are very articulate and able to have detailed conversations. Be aware though, that some children may appear to understand more than they do. It may help to ask lots of questions to make sure they understand. e.g “Does that make sense?” “How do you feel about that?”
  Listening skills
• Some young people might like to keep a record of the conversation. It may help to write down what has been discussed and what action you have agreed to take
• Using stories can be a good way of encouraging children to talk about their feelings.
  How would you feel