How do you develop relationships with each of the children in your service? From the moment the child is enrolling, you have a wonderful opportunity to gain information that will put you well on the way to forming a bond with each little one. Reflect at this moment on the type of information you require families to provide.
Do you have space to gather strengths and interests of the children?
Do you request ways that support the child through difficult situations (what works at home?).
Do you offer a time to review the settling in period, and share information regarding transitions?
Do you take a photo of the child the moment they visit, with family and on own, to use as a support to transition and demonstrate how valued they are when they arrive?
Do you take a photo of yourself with the child at orientation/registration to send home as another link between natural setting and the service?
Do you enable children to bring in a favourite book to share with the group?
Do you share the routine in a visual way to support the child transitioning into a new program? Do you reflect on this throughout the day to reassure the child that there is consistency of beginning, middle and end of the day?
What an amazing opportunity and privilege!
By demonstrating an authentic interest in the child you will set up the feeling of belonging from the moment you share information about yourself, reflect on what you know about the child's family, and demonstrate that you are aware of what will comfort, distress, support the child.
Some beautiful ways to do this are in our everyday way of interacting: listening, responding, identifying interests and strengths, supporting through challenges, as well as through drawing out conversation, displays that incorporate child interest and home life, and programming to include facets of a child's life both inside and out of the service.
The ECA article here by Anne Stonehouse provides some other strong ways to reflect upon developing adult:child relationships...Beautiful!
