Building Rapport with Children

As I mentioned in a previous post, it is essential to build a good rapport with your clients/patients!  In this post I will discuss ways to build a good rapport with children.

Genuinely care about them.  Not just about their speech/language but about them as a child.

Know what they are talking about . . . watch the movies they like, read a few of the books they like, walk down the toy aisle at the store. 

Give them choices.  Even if the only choice you can give is "Do you want to play this game or that game?"  give them a choice.  It makes them feel like you care what they think.

Pay attention to them.  I try to do most of my charting with children after we are done, so that I'm not looking away constantly.  They do notice!

Remember what they told you in previous sessions and bring it up, they will realize you were really listening.

Follow through.  Follow through when you tell them you will do something or that they can have something.