Relationship building is a key element in being an effective childcare educator. Good relationships between educators, their children, families and co-workers are the foundation of every successful childcare facility. Whether it be a family daycare or a large childcare centre, developing healthy and strong bonds with the children in your care and their families will create a strong basis for ongoing care.
TREAT EACH CHILD AS IF THEY WERE YOUR OWN
Nothing says ‘happy parent’ more than ‘happy child’. Embracing each child in your care as if they were a member of your own family will foster trust, kindness and care between educator and child. Your families will see this bond and be confident their child in being left in a safe and caring environment. As educators, we want to create as similar care environment to the ones children receive at home. It could be as simple as to:
- Offer hugs and cuddles at drop off
- Speak gently and with understanding
- Always pay credit to each child’s feeling and emotions
- Kneel to their level to speak and listen.
Every act, no matter how big or small, will be noticed and appreciated.
IT’S ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION
At the end of the day, parents and guardians just want to know that their child was cared for. Every detail no matter how minor, can be a major piece of information for a parent who has been without their child for the day. So whether a major milestone was reached or simply an act of kindness shown towards another child, parents will appreciate any tidbit of information about their child.
At the end of the day, everyone likes to be cared for, especially children. And like we mentioned earlier, ‘happy child = happy parent’. Handing over a happy child at the end of the day will take you leaps and bounds towards creating happy families.