One of the absolute joys of working with children is that you never quite know what’s going to come out of their mouths next.
Children have a wonderful ability to say exactly what they’re thinking, often with absolutely no filter. Whether it’s a brutally honest observation about your appearance or a completely unexpected question, they certainly know how to keep us on our toes!
You can spend ages planning a carefully structured session, only for a child to ask whether you’re old enough to remember dinosaurs! And just like that, your carefully planned session takes a slightly different direction!
At Reach, we recognise that building positive relationships is at the heart of supporting children’s social, emotional and mental health. Sometimes these relationships develop through meaningful conversations and planned activities. Other times, they’re built through a shared giggle, a silly joke or a completely random conversation.
Laughter can be a wonderful way of breaking down barriers. For children who find it difficult to trust adults, express their feelings or engage in activities, a little humour can go a long way. Sometimes, a shared smile is all it takes to begin building that connection.
Of course, children also have a remarkable talent for keeping us humble. Nothing quite prepares you for a child asking why you have so many wrinkles. Thank you for that very honest feedback.
Working with children isn’t always easy, but amongst the challenges are countless moments of humour, kindness and connection that remind us why we do what we do.
Because sometimes, a shared smile can be just as valuable as a carefully planned activity.
And if a child ever asks whether you were alive when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, just smile and try not to take it personally.
