Creating a Relationship of Trust

Ask any learner, and he or she can tell you of someone who made a difference in their learning, the mentor or guide who made a lasting impression on their knowledge and on their lives. The teacher-child relationship is the primary “classroom” for learning. It is within that relationship that real learning takes place, where the child keeps the knowledge, takes ownership of it, and is able to use it and apply it to new situations.

As the US National Association for the Education of Young Children observes, the relationship children have with adults is the foundation for their development:

"Positive relationships formed through warm, sensitive, and responsive care help children feel valued and gain more from their learning experiences. Children need positive relationships so that they feel comfortable and learn how to cooperate with others."

Creating this relationship of trust and open communication is the primary responsibility of the teacher. Every interaction with a child matters and is an opportunity for listening to him or her, acknowledging them and expanding their knowledge. When we treat children in this way, this is how they learn to treat others and how they learn to regard themselves. When children learn within a nurturing relationship with a mentor, the outcome is a developed capacity for relationship building, teamwork, and conflict resolution that will serve them throughout their education and, in fact, throughout life.