All Interact programs are centered on a few basic concepts. Children need to feel safe, that they are in a place where they can trust the adults around them. Children can only be taught to respect others by being respected, having contact with adults who listen to them. Children need to be told when they are doing things the right way and helped when they make mistakes. Children need to know that some rules are non-negotiable.
We believe that having children interact in a natural play setting helps them to carry over new strategies learned to the school playground, classroom, home and other places. Children have a difficult time putting themselves in the place of others, understanding how their behaviour has affected those around them. We talk about the way each of us feels in a given situation as it occurs. These situations may be exaggerated so that the child may better understand their part. We use children’s language to help further this understanding, children are not always kind or tactful.
We let the children know that adults may become upset at their behaviour, but they are still loved and respected. We tell them exactly what behaviour causes a negative reaction. Words like rude, disrespectful, inappropriate do not convey clear explanations of the child’s actions; we try to make it as specific as possible.
We let the children know the strengths they have and how their abilities may help a group activity. Our messages are clear about the specific skills that the children are using and how these skills are able to contribute to a group task. We do not exaggerate or embellish so that the children are able to see their contributions for themselves, and come to believe in their own abilities.
All of our programs are structured so that there is room for changes and adaptations. The children realize that certain things will always happen at a certain time and other things may change, they feel comfortable because they understand that they are part of the decision making process. They are able to have some control over their environment in a positive way.
We believe that children have a right to have strong emotional reactions and need to be taught how to deal with them in a safe way. Anger is a natural response to some situations and it has to be expressed in a way that does not hurt others. If children need time to work through their emotions, we provide a safe place where that can be done.
We provide a place where children feel free to be themselves, to try out new ways of dealing with things in a safe environment, knowing that they are respected and liked.