How to Make a Good Impression on Children

Are you in a situation where you have to make a good impression on the kids? There are certain situations that may require you to be friendly towards children. Maybe you need to make a good impression on the kids of someone you are dating, maybe your job requires you to work with children or maybe you have to volunteer at an event for children. Making a good impression on kids may seem nerve-wracking at first but it is actually as easy as taking candy from a baby. If you are interested in some of the ways to make a good impression on children you should take a look below.

1. Be kind. Children only want to be loved, understood, and to feel wanted. They value friends and those who extend warmness to them. If you want to win a kid over you have to be kind. Children are curious, honest, and observant and will say things that may seem offensive. Most of them do not mean to hurt your feelings. They are just very honest and you should not snap at their remarks. You should respond to them kindly and avoid using a sarcastic tone.

2. Be friendly. Introduce yourself with a smile on your face. Try your best to be personable. Be inviting and outgoing.

3. Try to relate. Try finding common ground with the child. Think of how you were as a child and what you liked and then hold a conversation with the child.

4. If you are a long term partner to the child's parent tell the child that you do not want to replace their other parent but that you just want to be a friend. Let the child know that he can come to you and talk to you about anything if he needs to.

5. Tell the child some facts about yourself. Share with the child some simple or quirky facts about yourself. Maybe you like corn on your pizza or mustard on your fries. Maybe you grew up on a farm. Kids like hearing quirky facts about others. Your quirky facts might entice the child to talk more and share some quirky tales of their own.

6. Impress the child with your hobbies. Children are curious and will take interest in what you take interest in. Maybe you enjoy collecting rocks, painting seashells, or painting portraits. Maybe you know everything there is to know about all of the dog breeds in the world or about science. Whatever your hobbies are share it with the child and let him participate in your hobby for example, if you like collecting rocks take the child and his parent on a day trip to hunt for rocks. This is a fun way for the two of you to learn about each other.

7. Bring a gift. If you are in a long term relationship with the child's parent try to pick out a special gift to give to the child when you meet him/her. When the child receives the gift she will view you as nice and (depending on the age) will want to be your friend. The child will slowly open up to you. The gift does not have to be expensive. Remember it is just the thought that counts not the price. Be prepared for the reaction to the gift because children are honest and will tell you right away whether or not they like your gift.

8. Be attentive. Make eye contact with the child when he talks to you. Listen to what the child is saying to you. Children have the ability to create elaborate stories and for this reason it can be easy to drown them out, but you should avoid doing so. Try your best to be attentive to the child because it will show the child that you care.

9. Be tolerant. Many children are full of energy; they will bounce around the house, ask questions, and talk to no end. You have to hold a considerable amount of patience in order to make a good impression on children. The best way to deal with an energetic child is to spend a day engaging in planned activities so that he does not get bored and will tire out towards the end of the day.