19th June at 12.30 pm – TwitterChat  - approaches to early education using dens – can we create a den for every area of learning?  Examples, resources and ideas from across the network.  Please use #EAChat in all your Tweets 

25th June – Exploring the tactile world round us using our hands (and feet) – what construction offers to children and what they bring to construction.  Webinar with live link to Teacher Tom Hobson in Australia.  http://earlyarts.co.uk/events/2014/05/making-visible-childrens-cultures-using-puppets-webinar/ 

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'Turn on the radio.' – 'It is broken, my dear boy, it does not work.' – 'No problem.' This is the conversation of an autistic child with the taxi driver.

A few years ago, when he did not get what he wanted, Rafael would get so upset, that it would significantly bother the people around him.

At the time, Rafael was living in a world consisting of his own rules and rituals, a world that seemed impossible to come out of.  He used to play solely with his chosen toys, which, in fact, he named after their colors. Rafael's friends were inert objects, numbers, and music, while people were uninteresting and scary for him. He walked on his chosen roads and would get angry when presented with a new path.

Perhaps Rafael's unruly behavior and refusal to comply were the reasons behind his expulsion from kindergarten early on, leaving his parents disappointed, desperate and full of doubts about their child's future.

Fortunately, within 'The International Child Development Center', therapists have been able to understand Rafael, connecting the dots between his needs, his wants, his emotions and his inside world, and have aided him in opening up and beginning to form his identity. 

Read more here: http://www.handiplanet-echanges.info/

If you've never communicated with a deaf child before you may feel nervous about how to do it. But don't worry - it's not as hard as you think!

It's important to understand that every deaf child is different – with different levels of deafness, hearing equipment and communication preferences but the tips below are useful for communicating with all deaf children. 

1. Find out how they communicate

Not all deaf children use British Sign Language (BSL). Every deaf child will have a preferred way of communicating, so find out if they use speech, BSL or a mixture of both. If they do use BSL ask their parents if they will need an interpreter.

2. Get their attention

To get a deaf child's attention you can wave, knock a table, or tap their shoulder lightly.

3. Face them when you're talking

Try to get down to their level so that they can see your face clearly. Don't move around while you're talking as this will make it impossible for the child to hear your voice and lipread.

4. Speak clearly and naturally

Deaf children will try to lipread, so they need you to say words as you normally would. Speaking slowly or too loudly makes lipreading much more difficult.

5. Watch your mouth

Covering your mouth with your hands, eating, chewing gum or smoking can make lipreading very difficult. It will also muffle any sound you're making.

6. Use visual cues, where possible

Point to what you're talking about, and don't be shy about using gestures to support your communication. For example, if you're telling a group of children dinner is ready, you can do a knife and fork action and point to the dinner table. 

7. Make it clear what the topic of conversation is

The child will find it easier to guess your words if they know what you're talking about. Make sure the deaf child knows when the topic changes.

8. Stand with your face to the light

Standing by a window or in poor lighting makes lipreading very difficult.

9. Speak one at a time

Group conversations can be difficult for a deaf child to follow. Make it easier by asking everyone to take their turn talking and to make a sign if they want to speak next.

10. Reduce background noise

Hearing aids and cochlear implants amplify a child's hearing, which means they have to concentrate very hard on your voice to hear it over everything else. Background noises such as traffic or the radio can make it difficult for a child to listen. Block out unnecessary noise as much as possible by closing windows, doors and turning machines off.

11. Never give up or say 'I'll tell you later'

Deaf children have told us someone saying "I'll tell you later" is their absolute pet hate. They want to be involved just like their friends, so if one method doesn't work, don't be scared to improvise. You can try texting on your phone, emailing, or good old fashioned pen and paper.

Our website is full of free information and resources for parents of deaf children and the professionals who work with them. So please do have a look at what we have got and share information with your friends and family: http://www.ndcs.org.uk/family_support/communication/deaf_awareness_info.html