Understanding feelings

• At times we all experience strong emotions as we deal with difficult or stressful events.
• Adults and children experience a wide range of feelings. Children gradually learn to understand and manage their feelings with support from the adults around them.
• Recognising their own feelings helps everyone to understand other people's feelings and to become more caring towards others.
• When each person is valued for who they are and differences are appreciated, everyone feels included and understood, whatever their personality, abilities, ethnic background or culture.

Video

Greeting a friend — In a childminder's home, two children greet each other as one arrives at the start of the day. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Friendships

• Friendships and relationships are an important part of children's development from birth.
• As children develop socially they begin to choose best friends and show preferences for the children they wish to play with.
• While friendships and relationships are a source of fun, they also offer children the chance to give and receive practical help and emotional support.
• Remember that making friends is not easy for all children, particularly those who are shy or who find it difficult to cooperate with others.

Video

Greeting a friend — In a childminder's home, two children greet each other as one arrives at the start of the day. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Professional relationships

• If you value and respect yourself, you will do the same to others.
• Professional relationships focus on respecting and valuing the strengths, skills and knowledge of the people you work with and recognising the contribution made by everyone in your setting.
• There should be open communication to ensure that everyone's views are listened to and considered fairly, always keeping the needs of the children firmly in mind.
• Professional relationships are based on friendliness towards parents, but not necessarily friendship with parents.

Video

Greeting a friend — In a childminder's home, two children greet each other as one arrives at the start of the day. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Effective practice

• Make time to listen to parents to learn about their feelings and identify any concerns.
• Be aware that many factors will influence children's and families' sociability. They may be tired, stressed or trying to communicate in more than one language.
• Help children who find it difficult to get on with others by showing them how to play and be friendly with other children.
• Recognise the strengths of professional relationships in creating an approach that best meets the needs of individual children.

Video

Greeting a friend — In a childminder's home, two children greet each other as one arrives at the start of the day. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Challenges and dilemmas

• Having strong feelings about an issue which may be a barrier to supporting a child or their family if they encounter a similar event or experience.
• Having strong relationships in the team which make other team members feel excluded or inadequate so they stop speaking up.
• Maintaining a professional distance from parents while working closely in partnership with them.

Video

Greeting a friend — In a childminder's home, two children greet each other as one arrives at the start of the day. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.

Reflecting on practice

How does the setting support mutual respect between the following:

• individual staff members or teams;
• staff members and parents;
• staff members and children;
• parents and children;
• children and children;
• diverse groups?

Video

Greeting a friend — In a childminder's home, two children greet each other as one arrives at the start of the day. [transcript]

You can watch the video via modem or slow / fast / superfast broadband connections. If you are behind a network firewall, why not click here to view a flash file of the video.  You do need to have the flash plugin.