[Juliet Grohall]

Create personal time to spend with the children doing the activities that they see as fun to create a connection as well as talk to them with open, ended questions and listen to what they need to say

[Liza]

Practice return and serve, be kind and respectful. Always listen carefully with attention.

[ash DEZ]

Making eye contact, give children your full attention. Ask questions, help them identify emotions.

[sabrina]

Make sure to really listen to the child’s needs. Figuring out their interest and play with them.

[Cynthia]

Communication, interacting, and listening are key to making connections with children. Children want to be heard and to be appreciated, so they seek attention from adults. We should help by supporting them, making sure they have someone to talk to and to rely on.

[Maedeh Haghighi Poodeh]

I would advise others to build connections by being consistent, attentive, and empathetic. Engage in active listening, get down to the child’s eye level, and show genuine interest in their ideas and feelings.

[Amelia Rose]

Rather than focusing on correcting behavior, look for where the child has done well in the situation and praise them for it. If correcting behavior is necessary, rather than say no or don’t focus on using positive redirection phrases like “instead do this” or “can you do this”

[kalena]

As we know it is important to build a relationship with our children so they want to keep coming back, are comfortable with us, and so on. To help build a relationship with the little ones what i feel is important is, showing genuine interest and care, being as present as can be and engaged, creating a supportive environment for them to be in, involve families, etc. Implementing these strategies can help you build meaningful relationships with the little one, creating a positive and supportive learning environment where the feel valued and connected.

[Dianna Arroyo]

What advice would you give to other Early learning Providers who want to build connections with children in their classroom?

Read together, create a family photo album, engage in pretend play.

[Hadya]

To build connections with children in the classroom, Early Learning Providers should focus on creating a supportive and understanding environment. It’s essential to recognize when children feel disconnected due to strong emotions like fear, sadness, or confusion. These feelings can make it hard for children to regulate their behavior and respond to reasoning. By providing warmth, patience, and consistent support, caregivers can help restore a child’s sense of connection. This, in turn, improves their ability to manage their behavior and engage positively. Using tools like Handout 5, “Causes of Disconnection,” can help identify when a child needs extra support and guide effective responses.

[Royce]

Ways to help help build connections with the child is by playing with them when they are in centers, sitting with them during lunch or just talking to them whenever you get the chance

[Alexandra Hegge]

Engage in play, get on the kids level and engage in their interests.

[sulekho]

To build connections with children in your classroom, practice active listening, engage in Special Time, use positive reinforcement, be consistent and reliable, show empathy, incorporate their interests, build trust through respect, encourage self-expression, create a warm environment, and be patient and flexible.

[Rachel Jones]

Be active in each activity the children are participating in, and create a safe environment where kids feel they can approach you and rely on you. Be positive and have a friendly demeanor.

[ayaan]