Unit 3 - Communication and professional relationships with children, young people and adults
1.1
The teacher-child relationship is an important one. It can affect the child’s learning and their general primary school experience. In order to develop respectful, professional relationships with children and young people, you need to be trustworthy, honest and polite, aswell as making sure you engage in one-to-one interactions with the child, and being on the child’s level during that time. You have to use a pleasant, calm voice, using simple language, making sure you are always listening to them, and encourage them to listen to others. Any necessary physical contact must be warm and responsive. Finally, follow the child’s interests, and acknowledge them for effort and accomplishments.
1.2
Your behaviour around children and young people should vary and adapt to suit each of their stages of development, in order to sustain a good relationship and communication between them. For example, when you are working with a young child who is aged 3-5 years old, anything you do can be, and usually will be,copied by the children. This means that all of your behviour should be well-mannered, with good intentions, ensuring that you don't display any behaviour that is capable of influencing bad habits or bad behaviour. This includes ensuring that no offensive language is used, no confrontational or threatening behaviour towards either a child or member of staff.
On the other hand, if you were to work with young people, aged 12-14 years old, they are at the age where they have developed a sense of who they are, and their own behaviours and mannerisms. This means that you don't need to be as vigilant with displaying possibly influencial behaviour. However, when you work this age, you need to be extra careful with displaying confrontational behaviour, since this is the age of puberty and the rebellion that comes with it.