The intent of Connecting Children is to enable adults to cooperatively construct a deep understanding of how to be with children and demonstrably prove they can employ that understanding to enhance children’s lives.

Directors and supervisors have long sought a professional development program that truly changes performance. Many are tired of buying trainings and workshops that make surface changes but do not affect relationships and actions.

Connecting to Children is the solution to providing fundamental growth in the abilities of all those who work with children. It is a year-long, site-based educational experience that develops warmth, happiness, and mutual respect among teachers, children, parents and other staff.

The four modules do not provide lectures, readings or indoctrination. They provide carefully sequenced experiences for people, of all cultures and backgrounds — they have an opportunity to talk together, focused on the realities of their children, to construct their own understanding, define their values, and develop new ways of being with children.

Connecting to Children gets results. Directors can see for themselves that their staff is visibly better with children. This is the evidence you will see.

When staff talk to children, they are more gentle, more natural, and more pleasant.

Children run to hug teachers on entry.

The staff members spontaneously report they have much more fun with children.

Everyone is laughing more often.

Staff have fewer problems with behavior and, for many, behavior problems disappear entirely.

By completing the tasks in these Modules and receiving the support of others, teachers investigate their own actions, articulate their fundamental values, and perfect their ability to influence young children. The modules create the opportunity to make a group commitment to work on ourselves together, small step by small step towards a tangible, provable increase in effectiveness with children that is felt by other staff, the children, and their families.

It is a challenge for teachers to open personal relationships with unique learners in unique circumstances, to act in accord with clear values of what is good, and to develop in each individual a sense of mastery and confidence. This is the heart of becoming really good with children.

Download Verb Training information (pdf)