Establish eye contact. You're a giant to kindergarten-age children, and your body language, tone of voice and ability to maintain eye contact will determine your success in talking with them. Before speaking to one kindergarten student, say the child's name and bend down to her eye level.This honors her and gives her and what you're about to say a sense of importance.
Focus your words on only one task at a time when giving directions. Simple, one-task directions preceded by the child's name are best. Reinforce the task by rephrasing the directions and repeating them to the child. Ensure he understood by requesting that he repeat the directions to you. For example, you could say, "Jack, please bring the blue ball in from the yard." After a pause, you could state, "Jack, go out and get your blue ball from the back yard, please." Following another pause, you could say, "Jack, can you tell me what I asked you to do?" AskDrSears.com recommends using rhyming words when you instruct children about unacceptable behavior or rules of conduct, such as "If you hit, you must sit." A rhyme can be repeated often and is simple for kindergarten students to remember. Not all directions have to be in rhyme, but rhyme helps to reinforce rules.
Tell kindergarten students to do something right rather than fix something wrong. "Don't run in the hallway," for example, is negative and threatening. "Walk while we're in the hallway," however, is positive and supportive. Always use gentle words. Young children respond to kindness and praise and are more eager to do what asked when words such as "please" and "thank you" are used. Kind words build feelings of confidence and self-worth and help kindergarten students develop good relationships.
Ask open-ended questions. An example is, "What was your favorite activity today?" Be kindergarten students' advocate, not their drill sergeant. No one, not even a small child, wants to be talked at. If you don't actively listen to a child, then you send the message that she is of no value. The best way to encourage her to listen to you is to listen to her. Apply the muzzle technique. When she speaks and you want to jump in to tell your story, stop yourself and allow her to finish. She will respect and appreciate you for taking the time to listen.