[Jenny Brown]

Building connections with children in your classroom begins with listening. Active listening by the teacher to the child.

[Erica]

The advice would you give to other Early learning Providers who want to build connections with children in their classroom would be to practice special time with each child. I would advise them to be creative with how this could be implemented.

[bahareh rahimkhani]

talk with them , play with them .sit on the floor and close to them , eat with them , hug.

[Irene Brewster]

To build connections with children in their classroom, it is important to listen to them, spend time with them, and interact with them.

[Michelle Farmer]

Engaging in what the child is doing and creating opportunities to practice a return and serve approach. Whether that’s reading a book, playing with blocks or playing outside there can be many chances to engage one on one and connect to them.

[Tamara Dykstra]

Tell them special things with the children in your classroom like if you have pets, how you like to read, or the pictures you love to read. Make a point to say hello and ask the child how they are doing at each start of the day and to say good bye at the end of the day. Also it helps to make a connections with their families. Take the time to have meaningful coversations and be a activite listener.

[Gabrielle Ogilvie]

To build connections with children in your classroom, it’s important to prioritize active listening, show genuine interest in their thoughts and feelings, and create a safe and inclusive environment. Engage in meaningful conversations, validate their experiences, and provide opportunities for choice and autonomy. Building trust takes time, so be patient and consistent in your interactions. Remember, every child is unique, so adapt your approach to meet their individual needs and interests.

[Alexa]

I think some ways to build connection are interacting with the kids, playing the games, singing the songs, doing the art projects and not being afraid to be silly and goofy and get down on the floor if need by. I think its also important to be that person they can talk to who will just listen and be there for them

[Hafso Egal]

My advice to other Early Learning Providers looking to build connections with children in their classrooms would be to prioritize active listening and meaningful engagement. Take the time to truly listen to what children have to say, show genuine interest in their thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and validate their experiences. Establish routines and practices that promote trust and consistency, as children thrive in environments where they know what to expect. Moreover, make an effort to understand each child’s unique interests and needs, adapting your teaching and interactions accordingly. Create opportunities for one-on-one interactions and “Special Time” as mentioned in Handout 2, allowing children to lead and express themselves freely. Building connections takes time and effort, but the relationships you foster will not only enhance the learning experience but also contribute to a positive and supportive classroom atmosphere.

[ruthi mathis]

Spend time getting to know each child through play, eating lunch, helping, so that you are familiar with and seen as a trusted adult. No their names, their likes, dislikes, serve/return.

[Kaylie]

I would say talk to them like they are a real person and really listen to what they have to say. I often respond to the kids I teach in an adult tone but I do not use the same language I would use while speaking with an adult. By keeping my tone the same it let’s them know that I see them as worthy of my respect as well.

[Sailaja]

Observation of all the children under your care. Observe, supervise constantly in circle time, free play, outside time etc. The more we observe children, the better we can understand their pattern of behavior and that will help us to understand which child needs more connection and help from the adult. And also by engaging actively with them by playing fun games and playing with them like their age group peers. Constant communication and involvement is necessary to build connections with children.

[Eva]

Listen, observe, ask questions. Let the child always know they are safe, welcome and loved. Positive interactions.

[Durva Patil]

Use serve and return techniques to build a relationship with the child using storytelling, imagination, and pretend play.

[Chloe]

Especially at the beginning of a school year/cohort change, I think that it’s important to plan for balancing establishing norms and rules with building the relationships that encourage children to follow your rules and instructions. I think of the highest priority rules that kids need to follow to be safe and communicate those clearly and repeatedly, but I don’t want to overwhelm them with every single rule or expectation that I will eventually have. After they know the basics, I go a little easier and focus on playing and getting to know them, then I can start to integrate more structured expectations. For one specific example, I start focusing on tissues and covering coughs with my two-year-old group after about a month. By that point they’ve settled into the routine, and I know a little more about their baseline skills; I also know which kids need me to model blowing my nose directly one-on-one and they are more comfortable with me doing hand-over-hand support for bringing the tissue to their faces. I really encourage teachers and caretakers to think about how much of a mental and emotional load they are putting on their newest kids. Try tallying how many direct instructions you give in even just an hour.