Effective communication is key to relationship building. How we listen to others is therefore important. The way we speak, our body language, gestures and facial expressions are crucial when it comes to effective communication. There should be clarity in our speech so that it is understood clearly. Explain things short and simple so that the children can grasp easily. Ask if they understood and if yes ask further on how they are going to respond to it. In that way we know if what we said was understood. We can make learing fun by by using our sense of humour.

Showing respect to others or being courteous and acknowledging the views of others is vital when communicating with anyone. We should treat people like human beings without being aggressive or intimidating. To earn respect we should offer it to others first and we have to live the example always.

Being empathic makes people feel that you have seen their point of view. Especially when it comes to young people they feel supported and understood which helps them build their trust and be more open with you. The way we interact with children also helps them build positive and emotionally secure relationships with adults.

Being conciderate is another element of building positive relationships. This means trying to understand another person’s situation by taking time to listen, showing interest and respond accordingly. We all face difficult life situations at times and act out of character under pressure. It could be a family or work related issue, an illness or berievement. In such situations we need to be understanding and be sympathetic to the person’s situation.