Effective Relationships with Children

Effective Communication

When working with young children communication is one of the most important parts in building a positive relationship.   Having good communication skills will help us to develop better relationships, especially with younger children.   It can help to make our lives easier and more productive in an educational environment.
Some children lack confidence, perhaps because of family issues, or sibling rivalry, and can find it hard to communicate at all.   If we can take time to listen to the child, then we can speak and reassure that child in a kind and positive manner, then they are most likely to open up and talk or confide to us more easily.   None of us likes to be spoken to in a negative way, so we should be careful how we speak to others, especially young children we should always be respectful and considerate and listen the childs point of view or concern.
Another reason for effective communication is that if a child has had a problem in a previous lesson with another child that you may not be aware of.   It could then continue and escalate into something more at a later date.  
Accepting shared responsibility by knowing what part we play and what is to be expected of us is very important in effective communication and building positive relationships, so being kept informed by teachers and support staff and following the correct procedures can help in this kind of situation, this would help us to keep an eye on the child/children concerned and then if anything should occur you could intervene in a positive way.   Talking with the child/children will also let them know that you are aware of the situation and could make them feel more at ease in the classroom and could put their minds at rest.
Non-verbal communication can also build positive relationships, a simple smile to a child who has be having difficulty with his/her lessons, show that you care, and that you are there should they need you, but not feel pressurised. This can also...