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You can spend hours trying to teach kids right from wrong and filling their heads with knowledge, but at the end of the day they just want to know you care about them. Of course, simply telling them that you care about them isn\u2019t good enough. As we often tell kids, \u201cActions speak louder than words.\u201d<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve gathered up a list of simple ways to show kids you care about them. Use them regularly and you may begin to find that the kids you interact with on a daily basis are happier and more likely to follow your guidance, all because they know that you care.<\/p>\n
Kids pay attention to what you say. If you make a promise, keep it. If you\u2019re not sure you\u2019ll be able to keep a promise, then say, \u201cI\u2019ll try my best, but I can\u2019t guarantee it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kids value your opinion and nothing lets them down like learning that you\u2019ve lied to them. Little white lies, like \u201cWow! That\u2019s a great painting,\u201d are fine. Bigger lies that they could discover, \u201cLike, I\u2019d love to go to your game, but I have to stay late and grade papers,\u201d are not.<\/p>\n
Even if their dream is to become a giraffe, encourage it. \u201cI bet you\u2019ll be the best giraffe there is!\u201d Kids need to be encouraged to dream and think creatively.<\/p>\n
Little notes like \u201cKeep up the good work\u201d or \u201cGreat job on your presentation\u201d will help motivate kids and show them that you notice them. You don\u2019t have to give notes for everything they do. A little encouragement once a week or so will go a long way.<\/p>\n
Randomly take some time to pay them a compliment, even if it\u2019s just something as small as, \u201cI really like your sweater today.\u201d This also helps kids know you notice them.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve ever told a preschooler or elementary-aged child you\u2019re proud of them, you probably saw a positive reaction. Kids have a desire to make grown-ups proud and hearing that they have done so gives them a wonderful feeling.<\/p>\n
As parents and teachers, we often catch kids doing something bad. However, we should work harder to catch them doing something good, and then point it out. For example, \u201cI noticed you helped Kayla pick up the crayons she spilled. Thanks for being so helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kids don\u2019t always recognize that pointing out their mistakes is a way of showing you care. Instead they think, \u201cI can never do anything right.\u201d When you see little mistakes, let them go. Chances are the kids recognize them and are working on fixing them themselves.<\/p>\n
Just like kids don\u2019t like it when you point out their mistakes, they don\u2019t like to hear the word no. Even though your no may be justified, saying no too many times can give kids a negative feeling. Some experts suggest trying to say yes two or three times for every no.<\/p>\n
Or a pat on the back, a high five, or a handshake. If you\u2019re a teacher, you might have to be careful about touching students, but there\u2019s nothing wrong with a simple high five or a handshake to say, \u201cJob well done.\u201d A simple pat on the back can say, \u201cI know you\u2019re struggling and I\u2019m here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Usually when a kid is having a bad day, you can tell. While a hug or pat on the back can help, sometimes you just need to lighten the mood. Tell a joke. Point out something silly. Make a crazy face. Sometimes that\u2019s enough to help kids redirect and forget about their bad mood for a moment.<\/p>\n
Kids love to sing silly songs, make silly faces, and enjoy other silly actions. Next time you\u2019re singing that crazy song or reading a silly book, take time to make zany noises or motions. Kids need to know you\u2019re not so stuffy and that you\u2019re willing to let your guard down with them.<\/p>\n
Let kids know you\u2019re happy to see them by giving them a smile. In the classroom, greet them with a smile in the morning and send them off with a smile in the afternoon. Whenever they catch your eye, smile to show you care.<\/p>\n
If you always have a frown on your face or constantly tell your kids that it\u2019s not a good time, they\u2019re going to stop coming to you. Let them know they\u2019re important by making some time for them when they come to you. If you truly are busy and it\u2019s a bad time, say something like, \u201cI want to hear this. Give me five minutes to finish it and then I\u2019m all ears.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course you talk to kids every day, but do you take time to just let them talk? Take a few minutes to let kids tell you something interesting or share what\u2019s on their mind. Respond to them appropriately, but let them do the majority of the talking.<\/p>\n
Making Barbie talk or rolling toy cars around of the floor may not be your idea of fun, but you should still take time to enjoy these activities with kids. Just five or ten minutes of play lets kids know you want to spend time with them.<\/p>\n
One of the best ways to let kids know you care is to take an interest in something they\u2019re interested in. If they have a favorite TV show, learn the theme song and the names of the characters. If they have a favorite sport, know some of the rules of the game. Kids will be impressed when you can spout off some of this knowledge on the fly.<\/p>\n
Kids have opinions and love to be given the opportunity to express them. If you have a decision to make involving your home or classroom, give kids some input. This lets them know that their opinions matter.<\/p>\n
Many hands make light work, but when those hands are little, they can often make work take a lot longer. However, giving kids little tasks to do makes them feel important, so find ways they can help.<\/p>\n
The simplest tasks, such as zipping a coat or putting on a pair of shoes, can take forever with kids. Instead of constantly saying, \u201cHurry up\u201d or showing other signs of impatience, stay calm and give them the time they need.<\/p>\n
Feeling safe is really important to kids. If you\u2019re a teacher, you may have kids that have unstable home environments, so school has to be a safe place for them. Make kids feel safe by establishing rules, creating a cozy environment, and controlling your emotions when they\u2019re around.<\/p>\n
Kids need adults to advocate for them. Let them know that you\u2019re always in their corner by standing up for them when they\u2019re wronged and by helping them fight their battles. However, don\u2019t come to their defense so often that they don\u2019t learn how to handle problems themselves.<\/p>\n
If kids participate in extracurricular activities or have a special event scheduled, take the time to show up. Nothing says \u201cI care about you\u201d more than having their teacher or parents show up to an event they\u2019ve been preparing for. Showing up says that you care enough to give up some of your time for them.<\/p>\n
If kids draw you a picture or make you a gift, display it proudly. You can also put a picture of the child in a special place. Let them know that they and their work are worthy of being on display.<\/p>\n
Birthdays are a big deal for kids. Even if all you do is say, \u201cHappy Birthday,\u201d acknowledging their special day will show them you care. Even better, give them a special sticker, birthday hat, or a small birthday treat.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re a parent, teacher, or work with children in another way, you should take time to show them that you care. Do you have other ways to show kids you care? If so, share them with us so we can use them on the kids in our lives!<\/p>\n\n\n
See our printable worksheets<\/a> for ideas and be sure to check out KidsKonnecy too. They’ve got a fantastic Random Acts of Kindness<\/a> worksheet pack with a a free sample available to inspire you further!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" You can spend hours trying to teach kids right from wrong and filling their heads with knowledge, but at the end of the day they just want to know you care about them. Of course, simply telling them that you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[191,190],"tags":[101],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n