The way we build relationships with children and young people changes according to the age and stage of their development. Responding to a 14-year-old in the same way as a 3-year-old is obviously not going to work. Reassurance and approval are important as children are beginning to develop an awareness of themselves, and it is important that their self-concept is a positive one. Play workers give reassurance and approval by smiling, praising or simply being alongside children as they try out something new. Children are quick to sense adults who are willing to spend the time listening properly to them. In this phase of childhood, children need adults to talk, but particularly to listen to them and explore their ideas, feelings and …show more content…

There is no one rule that applies to everyone; the play worker need to have some understanding of each person as an individual then base negotiations on such things as personality, wants, needs, etc. Life with children and young people often involves negotiation, whether we like it or not. The negotiation between a play worker and children can actually be a great learning experience. If there were no negotiations , the children and young people may not learn how to deal with conflicts constructively. However, negotiating with children and young people is often a challenging process. Play workers need to learn how to manage their own emotions, frustrations and know that negotiation doesn't mean giving in and is not about winning or losing. The play worker should negotiate issues in age-appropriate ways, respond to criticism in an appropriate way, take time to cool down, write down solutions, discuss them openly but without criticism of anyone's idea and it's perfectly OK for the play worker to make the final decision, as long as they have heard the children's point of view and tried to be fair. Children will come to respect that; they may not like it, but they will come to realize that it is fair. Children thrive with words of encouragement and praise.

Different approaches that can be used to show children and young people that their individuality is respected include: Encouraging children and young people to express their opinions by asking them what