The Importance of Feeling Understood
Feeling understood during the settling in process can help to validate the child's feelings, hopefully leading to them feeling comfortable and respected. Feeling seen and understood opens communication and allows for the child to feel secure. Children are in the process of trying to make sense of the world and ensuring that they feel understood empowers them to explore and investigate, even in new environments (Bandura, 1997). When educators and parents do not strive to see a child for who they are, it can fuel frustration. This frustration may grow into anxious, nervous or aggressive feelings (Blakemore, 2005).
“Feeling understood validates ones feelings and this might lead to mutual respect on an eye level and sometimes acceptance, and this is the only way for a child to become an integral part of a group. Interaction is a basic need for human beings. Feeling understood opens communication and allows for the child to start exploring rather than worrying about whether someone will understand them. ”