[Jessica]

Always return a serve. Be attentive, caring and meaningful when returning it. Get down on the child’s level and talk.with them. Eye contact is important, no matter what your age is.

[joslyn]

get down on their level and treat them with the respect you would want yourself. They are mini adults, they want to feel heard.

[Sutharya Dunfee]

show interests in what they like to do. almost like validate their feeling you want to validate their interest. ex, oh yeah when I was your age i played with cars to (whatever it may be). be friendly and don’t come on to them so strongly. smile and make eye contact.

[Maria]

Communication is very important to the children esp listening to what they are sayong or telling a story. If you listen to them. That means you are starting to buildi connection with the children. Playing with them makes them happy too.

[Patrice Hyatt]

To build connection with children in the classroom create a “special time” activity. Putting that child in charge for a specific amount of time, with that child having your undivided attention.

[Kelly]

To take time to get to know each child. Playing with, talking to, and listening to. Getting to know them on a more personal level.

[Lynn]

Some ways to establish connections in the classroom:

1. Show interest in the student’s lives and well-being

2. Establish clear expectations and simple rules

3. Foster a sense of community in the classroom

4. Use humor

5. Use positive reinforcement and encouragement

6. Be approachable

7. Encourage participation

8. Create one-on-one time

[Yaire Brillite Campos – Cigarroa]

I would advise them to really listen to the child that is speaking to you, they need someone to make them feel heard and cared for. they don’t want to feel invisible, just like none of us do. They’re tiny humans but they’re still humans. They still have feelings, they still care, and you’re one of the few people they’ll look up to while they’re in that setting.

[Magaly]

In regards to building connections with children in their classroom, always show genuine interest. Children can tell when you truly care about them, and when you are “just” doing a job. Understand that every child has very unique needs and experiences. When children feel seen and heard, they feel understood and supported, and thus they are more likely to form strong connections with their caregivers.

[Anjelica]

Get to know them and incorporate their interests in activities. Have patience and let them know you are there to support them no mater what.

[Faith]

LISTEN and RESPECT the child. No man exist that wasn’t once a child. How did you wish you were treated as a child? Have kind but firm limits and boundaries. Children need to know you are in charge, but that doesn’t mean you are the boss on their bodies.

[Allison Vance]

Get in there and do active supervision, where you engage/play with them while also keeping an eye on the behaviors in the whole room.

[Naomi T]

Take the time to listen. Ask questions to the children about things they like or like to do and listen to them about it. This is the starting point to build a connection with a child. I find that if you either talk with a child during an activity they like or after they finish it, you can learn a lot about the child.

[J. Rodolfo]

take the time to talk to them, play with them, and listen to them which puts to shows by anyone who has eyes and ears that this person is a trustworthy person.

[Kierra Jenkins]

• Join them in meals and play. And instead of solving problems for children, support them to get to the conclusion themselves. Them feeling self-confident and secure can help them build secure relationships.