Establishing respectful and professional relationships with children and young people is essential for Teaching Assistants. Employing strategies that promote trust and value helps create a supportive environment in which children feel comfortable and respected by their TA, fostering growth and learning.
Listening plays a critical role in establishing a respectful and professional bond with a child or young person. When a TA listens attentively to a child, without interrupting, it shows genuine interest and value for the child’s words. Allowing the child to freely express themselves signifies that their views and opinions are respected and valued equally as the TA’s own perspectives.
To actively engage with the child, the TA should demonstrate interest in their thoughts and feelings. This involves being aware of their hobbies, interests, likes, and dislikes. When interacting or listening to children, maintaining eye contact, focusing on what the child is saying, and physically positioning oneself at the child’s level are important. These actions show that the TA respects the child as an equal.
It is important for children to be familiar with the routine and rules so that they can understand the consequences of breaking them. This enables the TA to explain to the child that any punishment for breaking a rule is fair, which helps in building respectful relationships. Children often express their dissatisfaction by saying “it’s not fair” in the classroom. Another approach to… [continues]Read full essay
