How to Speak or Interact with Children 

Cool, now how do I speak to adults?

I love her comments about how to compliment children. SO TRUE. On a related note, I've learned that a good note to start a conversation with a kid, like, seven and younger is their shoes. Works every time. :)

HELLO SMOL HUMAN

As someone who's worked in childcare in various capacities, don't talk down to kids, regardless of age. It's incredibly offensive, demeaning, and they will respond to it exactly the way you'd respond if someone talked to you like that. Honestly I think Mr Rogers was one of the best exemplars of how to interact with kids, ie as people who are just smaller, a bit more vulnerable and who probably haven't had as much life experience as you.

I just dont know how some adults dont understand this. I remember childhood, and I hated when adults treated me as if I was stupid.

What wonderful advice. We'll never forget what it felt like when grownups didn't treat us as people with feelings and thoughts of our own. Great job, Chelsea! Your respect for children comes out strong and clear.

I'm a parent, and interacting with children is exhausting to me. Everybody expects the physical exhaustion of early parenting, but I think people underestimate the mental exhaustion of trying to keep up with their energy once they're more independent. I don't know how they keep going, but I'm ready for a nap around 1PM.

I am soo bad with kids. I bet if I told a kid:show me how fast you can run with those shoes, there would be an acident!

i'm so bad with kids i just kinda stare at them until they leave me alone

I didn't know how much I needed this XD I'm great with kids aged 1-3, but the older kids I'm super awkward around. I'm already an awkward and shy person, and then when talking to kids I don't have as much of a "script" to follow to ease my anxiety like I do with other people my age. This was helpful!

This is why I've stayed in my severely underpaid job for so long. Yesterday I built a rocketship for dinosaurs, played Mario Kart, and had a discussion about why different balls are used for different games. Working as a Play Specialist means I get to just hang out and be silly all day long.

I'm Asperger and talking or interacting with children is the one social skill I feel I've been at least as good or better than my peers. I was a smart kid and hated being talked down to or not taken seriously, I do not remember every crying after hurting myself but I do remember crying when I felt peoples thought I was stupid, like when my mother told me Santa Claus did not exists she probably thought I cried because I was shocked or something, when in reality I did not like my own mother thinking I was an idiot.

Simple ice breaker I used to do is the good old, "Hello! How do you do fellow kids?" Works everytime. ;p

At work, I needed to get the attention of a 4-year-old girl that was running around in the store, and all I could think of to say to her was, "ma'am, um ma'am, excuse me ma'am." XD Which is a bit strange, but I felt too weird about calling her "sweetie" or something cutsie like that, cause it felt creepy and I also would not call her by that if she was an adult. Was there anything less dumb to call her?

I don't know why I was expecting something cliche and outdated, but those were really good tips.

I appreciate the advice. I'm someone who literally just doesn't know how to interact with young children - I try to avoid interacting with kids, because I just feel completely lost and I feel put on the spot when others introduce me to their kid(s) or the kid(s) want me to play with them. I'm not sure how I ended up like this, but I have a lot of social anxiety and issues communicating with people in general, so maybe that plays some role in the challenges I face with kids? Anyway, my older brother (20 years older than myself) is amazing with kids and always has been. I'm not sure how I ended so utterly lost. 😩

This is a life saver

never ever thought I would be watching this as a 14 year old. I'm constantly around little kids, but my anxiety makes it so awkward for me to communicate with their energetic needs and I just never know how to talk to them. especially depending on the age range. now even at age 14, I'm looking up stuff like "how to talk to little kids" "how to get along with little kids" or "how do you make conversations with little kids?"

Kids have lots in common with adults. Talk about food, animals, superheroes, princeses. Make use of the timeless cartoons such as Spiderman, Scooby Doo, or the family features like Trolls, Inside out (what ever is in at the time {Frozen may be a touch too old by now but you can give it a shot}) As an adition to never talking down to children, you may want to lower your status in order to become true friends. Goofing around and doing slapstick such as " let me show you how I do a balerina piruette" folowed by something ridiculus which includes falling on your bum is great. To lower my status I like to tell 4 year olds and up "You're way older than me. I'm just 2, and still wear dipers." Now if you have to retain authority you should be careful not to take your status too low. This is important mostly if you're dealing with kids who have too much energy. Sometime kids like that will be naughty for fun. In that case the joke may turn on you if you try too stop them so don't. Instead join them in they're fun so you can turn it less dangerous. Like a bunch of nine year olds wanted to atack me with basket balls on a play ground the other day. I said I won't play along that way and showed them the little kids ball pit. "You can shower me with plastic balls all you like." I said, simultaniously throwing balls at them. Let them have they're fun and once 2 or 3 get bored, you can say you're bored too and be done.

Yay Chelsea! 💜 This was delightful. I haven't worked in childcare in five years, but watching this reminds me how much I miss being around little ones. I especially love being able to goof off with them. Making a silly face? No big deal - just playing with some cute kids. 😊

I’m a guy with a degree in Early Childhood and a retired teacher of gifted. The best way to have a conversation with a tot is not to overwhelm them with attention at first. A few fun faces and smiles will draw them to you after the huge extended family has worn them out. My best tip to is use questions sparingly and avoid yes/no questions.

One of the most useful HTA video I've watched. Thank you!!

I've problem to talk with children. Im so uncomfortable

Really refreshing video with wonderful advice that couldn't have come at a better time! I was just admitting my worries with my ld partner at how I'm no good with people around 16 and under (don't know what to do/say with them) and the prospect of meeting her close family - most of whom have kids that are below that age and three of whom she sees/looks after on a daily basis - was quite terrifying. I'll try and remember these tips when I go!

love this. My own boss tries to point out how I talk on an adult level to certain children at my work, I'd love a video on how to talk to children who seem to be more frustrating or create that overstimulation for you, if they aren't comfortable with you but you are the only teacher at the moment. I've been trying to do better about getting down with them. I find I prefer working with toddlers or kindergarten or pre-k.

Thank you for this video. It helped me a lot with my nervous feelings about meeting my siblings foster children. I have always been pretty good with kids and this video reinforced for me that I already know and do the basics right while offering some more nuanced perspective.

This is very helpful. Thank you!

These were some great tips! I only see my young niece and nephew once or twice a year since they live far away, so I'm always looking for ways to interact with them better.

Im here for my 3 year old neighbour who wants to be my best friend 😁 shes so cute ❣ i just cant act natural around children 😂 update, it’s been 2 years 😂 my little neighbour is now 5, and i did my work experience in my primary school, and got to visit her class for a day! i am a lot less awkward now, and help out at brownies too. i just go along with what they say most of the time, but if they are shy like i was i still struggle to come up with things to say to them sometimes 🥴

It'd be awesome if you could share role plays or example conversations a nanny who's new to the US could use to start a conversation with a child in the US (maybe between the ages of 6-13). The setting is mostly for tutoring or teaching children in small groups. Thank you!

I NEEDED THAT. really thankful. love from canada.

This is such a helpful video! I'm working on becoming a youth librarian, and honestly, the ability to interact with kids always scares me (even though I guess I do alright), so I'm always on the lookout for new tips! You've got a new subscriber, Chelsea!

Thank you so much for this video! Soooo helpful.

Just clicked a random video and I really didn’t expect to see Hank green 😂

Great episode! I'm around kids a lot in my work, so this is very helpful.

I appreciate this and have learned things from this video, but I feel it was being approached by the question, "How do I interact with children to get them to like me" as opposed to "How do I interact with children to inform them of what I am trying to convey". Examples of ideas I'm trying to convey are, "please stop climbing me", "please stop crying/screaming", "please stop kicking me; kicking isn't nice", "please, just stop" and the all-purpose W.C. Fields classic, "go away kid, ya bother me".

Super amazing helpful advice Chelsea!! This reminds me how much I appreciate being spoken to as an adult by my parents when I was little. I honestly think that helped me to have much more advanced language skills than my peers early on in school.

great tips. my son is 13 months and can't say many words but can follow directions better than my 3 year old. and i have had to learn to stop telling my daughter that shes cute because now she calls everything and everyone cute. so I have started complimenting her more on her kindness, humor and intelligence.

this is great! super helpful tips!

So hilarious!!!! Currently binge watching the "how to adult" series. So practical and also so funny. I can't stop laughing. Thanks for all the great advice!

Thanks for sharing, this has given me ideas :)

Hank here is such a surprise to me.. I have watched a couple of biology tutorial videos on crash course and I never thought I would see him in such vids.. Cool☺️

I adore this Chelsea adult. Now I shall subscriber to her. Thank you 'How to Adult.'

This is really helpful! I just got a job as a side dance instructor, and that includes children's classes, which is very new to me 😅

thank youuu I’ll be using these

I honestly didn't know that other people have this same problem of not knowing how to talk to children. I thought it just came natural to other people. Good tips.

Very interesting and helpful.

That was really helpful

Absolutely loved it! Thanks for the advice. Totally subbing. :)

I realized I didn't know how to interact with babies and really little kids until one of my best friends had baby and once he turned 1 and was walking around like a real little human, I was like 'wait, how am I supposed to talk to him?' His parents were like we just talk to him like another adult, which was good because that was my default guess. I still was surprised when I asked if he wanted help opening a granola bar and without looking up he said "no, I've got it." Kids really are smarter and more capable than we're lead to believe.

Me before I watched the video: WHERE WAS THIS VIDEO THIS PAST WEEKEND WHEN I HAD TO INTERACT WITH A LOT OF KIDS AT WORK?!?! Me after I watched the video: Oh, I did most of these things she suggested, so I actually did ok!! :D

Thanks so much for this video! I‘m having my Au Pair interview with a lovely host family for the second time tomorrow and I‘m going to skype with their kids. They are two years old and I felt so helpless because I didn‘t know how to talk to them for the first time. Especially when it‘s over Skype. I think with this video I‘m feeling prepared! 👏🏻

Indeed, I have learned a lot from her, thanks 👍

Thank you!! Talking to kids is one of my biggest fears!

This channel is so useful

You talked about not touching a baby uninvited or respecting kids' personal space, but I have the exact opposite problem. People want me to hold their baby and I am NOT comfortable with that, what do I do? And kids always want to touch me and hug me and I am also not comfortable with that but I don't know how to tell them to stop without sounding mean.

Sharing this!!! The lack of catchphrase is always going to make me smile. :)

Kids are very open and sociable by nature, unless they are timid. You just have to relax and answer them in very simple but direct dialog.

If their parents are there, take your cues from them. And when in doubt, ask. My nephew is 2 1/2. He's seeing someone to help him focus and expand his attention span, so it's important that you work with that plan. If he's all over the place it can help him if you stay consistent and keep him engaged with a single activity. But other kids without attention issues might need different attention.

Thank you soo much! I'm gonna see my younger cousin (5) again after a year and my baby cousin who I've never met. I'm really exited and I'm only sixteen so you'd think I know how to talkbto kids but I'm super self concious so this really helped me a lot.

I’m taking care of a 2 year old little boy! Thank you so much for you advice !

Thank you for ur advice mam

Tip #4!!! Keepin' it real Chelsea!

Thankyou very much for the advice, it was awesome. btw, could you share how to speaking/interact with 16-17 years old children?

Im not a teacher or an adult but i lovee kids and i really wanna encourage them and help them live the life i havent lived. But there is alot of bullies in our school and they look kinda afraid when i just stand next to them and think wether i should speak up or not so thank you omg

I have to babysit a four year old this week and I’m shitting myself lmao I’m so awkward in general and kids are even scarier because they’re unpredictable and just straight up say what they think

it was perfect .. thank you

I'm one of those adults who relates too much to preteens and teenagers such that I have accidentally made comments about when all your friends are getting married to them and they're like ... I'm 12. But when we're talking about common interests (and when teenagers now watch Drag Race) it just feels like talking to friends. Overall, I thought working at a children's theatre (and staying appropriate) would be harder, though.

Thank you

I’m just trying to prepare for work experience in a primary (elementary) school WHY IS MY FAVOURITE GUY + CHEMISTRY TEACHER HANK GREEN HERE??

Has anyone noticed that either Hank or Rachel are hanging in the Hang in There poster in the background and when they're both in the episode no one is in the poster?

This is such good advice as another person who works with kids.

Chelsea looks so comfortable in her skin, I feel like you really need to be confident interact well with kids (which I'm not😭)

Great point about commenting on the appearance of girls, most people don't realize the effect those little comments have.

I'd love to be able to goof off with kids, since you just don't get to do that with many adults. But the fear of looking weird in front of other adults is too much for me to overcome. I even feel awkward holding kids or crouching down to say hi if there's other adults watching. I've considered working around kids since it seems like so much fun, so I'd love some help overcoming my fear of looking nuts.

How many Channels do the Greens host? Vlogbrothers, Crash Course, Scishow, and How to Adult? What are they not doing?

The crash course guy!!! 😭

I feel like maybe this is a Canadian thing -- but practically every one I've ever known takes off their shoes inside the house, babies or no babies... How's that weird at all ?

As someone who wants to work with children and make content for children I find this video very helpful

I love this videoo

I was parentified as a kid, and I'm SO scared of doing the same to a kid, so maybe I tend to talk more "easily", I hope that I don't talk down to them, but I just want them to feel like they are safe and can be just kids.

God bless you👌

my girlfriend and i are gonna teach preschoolers a terracotta pot painting class tomorrow 🎨 coming here to learn more on how to interact with them properly, thank you 💪

I have gained a lot in this video!I find it hard to communicate with children sometimes.

How do you talk or connect with teenagers? I feel like they automatically judge me and pick up on the fact that I am awkward and lived in a tower my whole life lol.

i’m a student taking child psych classes and i’m around preschoolers that WHOLE period. i need some advice on how to talk to them😭😭

i talk to childen like i talk to my parents cat, which is basicly all of these tips in the video :p

I'm going to be interacting with kids from middle school and high school and relating to them on some level may be a different conversation. Is there a video from Chelsea on this?

Does Chelsea has youtube channel?

I got a job where i have to teach and interact with kids a lot and im borderline TERRIBLE with kids; i can barely interact properly with my neices and nephews so im holding onto some hope that I'll be able to get better at this and be as cool as the adults i knew growing up!!

Me and my friend is starting to work a week in a kindergarten in a couple weeks! We are both 14 years old and need to know how to interact with 1-3 year olds :)

Lmao im gonna be a field trip chaperone in 2 minutes 😭

I’m a year 6 and I do prep helping (helping and playing with kindergarteners (I dunno what’s their name in American English)) and literally all I do is pick rubbish .

Hello. I have put subtitle in Persian language for your video. it seems that it needs your verification to be seen. It would be great if you verify it.

💜

Nice Mam

Hahah idk why i feel like i'd be more comfortable talking to kids than people my age lol

With "Go with they are." Yes ask them about school (they may or may not be interested in talking about that) ask them about a toy you see in the area, are they wearing a graphic t-shirt, or shoes with a design? Ask them about that. Walk through a toy section and look at the ones based on TV or movies for pop culture references. Also hi-fives? Yes, I work in retail and I have gottwn kids out from behind their parents and smiling by aaking for a hi-five or fist bump.

1:04 The arrangement of the elements is so off it's kinda bugging me lol

I like ur comments!! Speaking slower would b great!!! Speedy comments is hard to take it in🤗🤗🤗