I don't know how to interact with children

Post Reply New Topic

I will never understand why kids scream endlessly and talk nonstop either.

For me the problem would be if I had to engage in imaginative play with a child.

Yeah, I have no idea how to do it. I work at a gym that has a nursery and I used to get called in to help with the kids before my boss realized that me working with children was a total disaster. I literally have no idea how to communicate with them and it gets even worse if they're loud or if they start crying. Like if I don't know how to deal with adults crying, I definitely don't know what to do about kids.

I'm just super awkward and I have a tendency to make every situation involving kids worse.

Kids can be annoying but I like their simplicity of needs and they are easier to understand than adults.

If they want something they tell you, they don't expect you to automatically know. {rolleyes}

I'm uncomfortable around children, they tend to scare me.

Yet, I coach hockey and baseball. It's not something necessarily that I look to do, but often find myself ending up on the position because other parents aren't interested. I enjoy it, but later in the season it really begins to wear on me.

I cannot be a head coach though, I can only do assistant because as much as I like cats, I'm useless at herding them.

I tend to actually do better with kids than with grown-ups. I'm still faking it with them just as much as grown ups - probably even more. But they just want to play games and things like that, not hard things like make small talk.

Tips for interacting with kids: (from someone who works with children in schools)

Babies
-Hold them so that their head is supported and rock. It is perfectly socially acceptable to rock when holding a baby
-Some babies like to be held close, others like to look around them. Remember that babies are still learning what everything is, so any new objects are interesting.

Toddlers/Pre-school
-Have a story or picture book and talk about the pictures. For up to two years it doesn't even have to be a story, things like "ooh, there's a ball, it's a red ball" are good.
-Ask them to show you their toys and talk about them. If a child has an action figure or something and asks you to play they often have their own ideas about how the game will go and tell you what to do. You can even say "Can you tell me how to play with this" and they may enjoy teaching you. My son (aged 3) often tells me what I need to say and how we should fight the baddies.

School aged children
-Show them a game that you play on your mobile phone.
-Talk to them about your special interests. You will come accross as very clever and your enthusiasm will help make it interesting to them.
-Ask them to tell you about their favourite games or TV shows.

Another good tip, if the child is feeling shy, just ignore them for a bit and let them come to you. If you have any fidget toys that you like to play with, start fiddling, the child may start looking and then you can show them your toy and how it works.

Kids like STUFF. It's easier to bond with children when talking about or playing with a particular thing. If it's a thing that you enjoy and show interest in, they will be taken in by your interest.

Hope some of these ideas help.

^I like those ideas.

In the past I've had trouble when a child says, "Let's pretend...."
Oh no. I couldn't even do it as a kid and I haven't improved since then.

Same exact thing happened to me at christmas. A little baby girl cousin crawled right up to me and smiled and I just sat there. I hope I at least had a look in my eyes showing that I thought she was sweet. Then later on the next youngest tottled over and gave me a hug. But again I didn't openly respond. When they're babies they take to me like that, but when they get older it's like they realize there's a barrier of sorts. But I get the feeling they understand that I don't dislike them, and that I just keep to myself.

^^^I wouldn't know what to do in a similar situation, either.

The fact that African countries prefer kid soldiers over adult soldiers tells volumes of the merciless wickedness of kids.

Kids are never "innocent", they are just ignorant.

Small children are tough to play with because they don't know how to follow your rules and directions and don't understand what you tell them. You can't really have a conversation with them and their understanding of things is very limited. The only thing I can do with a toddler I just hold them. I can read to them too but they don't let you finish a book. I remember very small children would frustrate me and they could get me into trouble if they wanted because I would always be the bad guy. I vowed I would never let my own be monsters when I have my own.

I am pretty good in interacting with toddlers and kids. Babies and teenagers are what I have trouble with. Babies - because I am afraid I will hurt them, teenagers - because they are already better in social interaction than I am and point out my mistakes.

Nonverbal toddlers are sort of like a dog or cat. Just poke them, make funny noises to get their attention(talking to them is good too), let them walk all over you, throw them things, let them destroy stuff and they will love you.

Verbal toddlers like it when you speak to them and ask them questions(although they still consider nonverbal activities fun). Constant conversation such as "What's that? Is it a doll?", "Where is the bear?", "Bring me a pen", "Want me to draw a flower? Look. Here are the leaves. And those are petals.", "Do you like cats? Sure you do!", "Where does it go? Are you sure it's the right slot?", "Show me your toys" is the attention they need the most, even if they only understand a half of it. Just look for ideas for names/locations of things in your surroundings.

Preschool and school age kids on the other hand are happy when you ask them about their hobbies and schoolwork and compliment them: "You did it by yourself? You are so talented!" and just show interest in what they show or tell you about. You can also tell you what you are interested in and teach them. Basically the same thing as with verbal toddlers but conversation can go deeper than what you both can currently see because they understand more words and have higher level thinking.