Quick question for you…

When it comes to building trust with those hard-to-reach kiddos—what’s your signature move?

Here’s a fun little poll:
a) Greeting each child personally when they arrive
b) Joining them in play throughout the day
c) Using favorite songs, activities, or books to connect
d) Something else entirely
e) All of the above—I’m the Jack/Jill of connection!

Which one’s your go-to?

Here’s the truth: building connections—especially with the kids who challenge you most—isn’t just a “nice” thing. It’s essential. It’s the crawling-before-you-walk kind of foundation.

One of my favorite trust-building tools? The “Yes, and…” strategy.

Let’s say Josiah walks in pretending to be Spiderman.
Instead of redirecting right away, I greet him with, “Hey Spiderman!” That’s my YES—meeting him where he is.

Then I add the AND:
“Wanna draw a web? Or build a skyscraper with Legos to climb on?”
Boom. Connection, engagement, and a step toward classroom participation.

If you’re not building trust as fast as you’d like with certain kids, don’t stress—we’ve all been there.

A few reflective questions:
🤔 Are you truly meeting each child where they are?
🤔 Are you leaning into their interests before guiding them forward?
🤔 Are you making time to connect even with the children whose behavior tests you most?

Just something to chew on today.

I’d love to hear from you—what’s working in your classroom?

👉 Share your trust-building move in the comments below.