Educators should promote positive engagement that develops responsive, warm, trusting and respectful relationships with children that enhances their wellbeing, self-esteem, sense of security and belonging (Standard 5.1).

Relationships of this kind encourage children to explore the environment and engage in play and learning. Educators should also be involved in fostering sensitive and responsive relationships between children to ensure they are communicating in a collaborative and respectful manner (Standard 5.2)

R155 Interactions with children requires providers to take reasonable steps to ensure children are:

• encouraged to express themselves and their opinions
• provided with education and care having regard to their family and cultural values, age, and physical and intellectual development and abilities of each child being educated and cared for by the service.

R156 Respectful and positive relationships requires providers to take reasonable steps to ensure that the service provides children with opportunities to interact and develop respectful and positive relationships with each other and with staff members of, and volunteers at, the service.

A few things to consider:

• Are all staff aware of the cultural needs of the children, based on input from their families?
• Do the programs provided celebrate and nourish the language, culture and history of each child attending?
• When engaging with the children, use examples which relate to their environment and community.

Some tips for services

• Try to include opportunities for both staff and children to learn some simple words from diverse cultural backgrounds to communicate.
• Provide toys or creative activities that reflect and educate children on diverse backgrounds.

Visit ACECQA’s website for information sheet on Relationships with children.