Building Positive Relationships with Children
Building a positive relationship with children is key to the well-being of a child’s social emotional health. A positive approach helps when a challenging behavior intervention is needed. Children typically seek out adult approval for many of their daily events and doings.
We as adults need to focus on continual communication, set out clear expectations and catch them when they are being good. Love, security, nurturance and responsive interactions allow a child to grow and thrive in a positive manner.
Positive affirming statements to a child each day helps build a positive relationships which will aid when challenging behaviors arise. When a child exhibits challenging behavior it is easy as an adult to get frustrated, discouraged and angry.
However working hard too proactively build a positive approach with the child will help alleviate some frustration and stress in you and the child. Some positive strategies that help build positive relationships are: Follow the child’s lead during play – this allows to monitor situation’s before a negative behavior or situation can arise. Another strategy is to acknowledge a child’s efforts, even if they do not 100% succeed at a task.
Children need to feel confident at all efforts made so they have the confidence to try things again. When children learn through the positive guidance of the adults in their lives they too we be able to form positive healthy relationships with other children.
Children who have good positive relationships with the adults in their lives will learn easier, be more compliant and are less likely to have challenging behaviors. Positive relationships help a child feel safe and loved.
A nurtured child, who is raised in a way that builds positive relationships, is a child that will have a health social emotional well-being.
Some starters for giving positive feedback and encouragement for effort, thinking and problem solving
- “You must feel proud of yourself for…”
- “You’ve done a wonderful job at…”
- “That’s a cool way to…”
- “Give me an EXTRA HUGE high five for…”
