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Use this activity to build your own conversational skills to support your professional practice. Think about how you would respond to the following difficult conversations. Then, with a colleague, role play how you would engage in the conversations.

Difficult Scenario 1: You walk into a preschool classroom and see a child crying alone in a chair. All of the other children are playing and the teachers are working in other areas of the classroom. Another child approaches the crying child, and you hear the teacher bark, “Walk away from him. No one talks to Carson. He is not a good friend.”

Difficult Scenario 2: After several observations, you have noticed a staff member seems to spend a great deal of time holding one particular infant. While you are pleased that the infant has formed a strong attachment with the caregiver, you have noticed that the caregiver is not as responsive to other infants.

Difficult Scenario 3: A school-age staff member has been acting aloof and disengaged with the children. Whenever a child tries talking to him, he simply says, “Uh-huh” or “That’s cool.” You have decided you need to talk to him about his behavior.

Difficult Scenario 4: A staff member is very excited about her activity plans this week. It is October, and each of the young toddlers will be making identical construction paper pumpkins to display in the classroom. The teacher is getting ready to pre-cut all the materials the children will need. You are concerned that this activity isn’t developmentally appropriate.