How you can be a Supportive Figure to Children
Tip #1: Build Rapport?
When you first meet the children, you can build rapport and trust by firstly introducing yourself. Tell them your name and maybe even share a fun fact about yourself. This can set the stage for you to transition into an ice-breaker where the children can introduce and share more about themselves. Be sure to match their energy too! Or if you find that the group is more timid, you can share your enthusiasm by showing them that you’re really excited about spending time with them. This is where your non-verbal cues come into play. Use your facial expressions, hand gestures, body movements and eye contact to your advantage. Don’t be afraid of being silly and making the children laugh. Laughter is a great way of getting the children to become more relaxed.
Tip #2: Involve Everyone
When engaging children, ensure that each of the children has an equal opportunity to participate in the activity and conversation. Children hate perceiving unfairness, so it’s important that you treat everyone equally and fairly. A good way to include everyone is by asking follow-up questions to the rest of the group after a child has completed his or her sharing. This can establish commonalities in the group and promote active conversation. For example, you can say, “Oh, you like badminton? I play it every weekend. Who else here likes playing badminton too?” Also, don’t forget to encourage the more reserved children to participate. If they are uncomfortable with speaking out, you can ask them yes or no questions where they can reply by nodding or shaking their heads.
Tip #3: Be Clear and Consistent
It’s always good practice to set clear expectations at the start of the session. By letting the children know what the rules and expectations are, it can help them to be more relaxed and engage better as they know what to expect from you. Consistency is another important point to note. Children like having a routine so they know where they stand. If you’re having multiple sessions with them, make sure that the sessions are structured and follow a routine so that it’ll be familiar to the children. A structured routine gives them a safe space to learn and play.
Tip #4: Praise & Acknowledge
Praise and acknowledgment can go a long way for children as it nurtures their confidence and sense of self. By praising a child, you teach them how to think and talk positively about themselves. It can also improve their motivation and inspire them to be more persistent and hard-working. While there are many benefits to using praise, it is vital that you do it in an appropriate manner. Ensure that you use motivating phrases that are specific and focus on the effort they’ve put in instead of the outcome. You should also avoid overpraising as it may backfire and make the children feel uncertain about their true abilities. Instead, when they make a mistake or don’t perform as well, you can use words of encouragement to motivate them to do better.
Tip #5: Be Firm
It is equally important for you to be firm with the children when the need arises. You should identify when a child misbehaves or breaks one of the rules and take necessary actions to correct the behaviour. Be sure to explain clearly what they did wrong, why it was wrong and provide constructive feedback on how they can be better. Always focus on the error, never on the person. Correcting misbehaviours can help children develop self-control and self-regulation skills and aid them in self-improvement. It is a part of their learning process. Take a gentle yet firm approach when you discipline children.