Top Ten Tips for Working with Children: A Camp New York Guide

Working with Children

Working with children is both a rewarding challenge and a tremendous responsibility. At Camp New York, we’ve discovered that creating meaningful connections with young campers requires a special blend of patience, creativity, and structured guidance. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or aspiring camp counselor, these ten actionable tips will help you foster positive relationships with children while creating engaging, memorable experiences in any setting.

1. Master the Art of Positive Reinforcement When Working with Children

Children respond remarkably well to positive reinforcement, which builds their confidence and encourages continued good behavior. Rather than focusing on what children are doing wrong, actively look for opportunities to praise their efforts, improvements, and achievements.

At Camp New York, we implement a “catch them being good” approach. Our counselors are trained to notice and verbally acknowledge when children share equipment, help others, or demonstrate resilience during challenging activities. This positive approach creates an uplifting atmosphere where children feel valued and motivated to continue positive behaviors.

2. Create Consistent Routines and Clear Expectations

Children thrive in environments with predictable routines and clear boundaries. Establishing consistent daily schedules helps children feel secure and understand what’s expected of them, reducing anxiety and behavioral challenges.

At Camp New York, we display visual daily schedules that outline mealtimes, activity periods, rest times, and transitions. We also establish simple, positively-phrased “camp agreements” rather than long lists of rules. For example, “We respect each other’s space” and “We use kind words” are more effective than “No pushing” or “No name-calling.”

• Post visual schedules at eye level for children
• Review the day’s plan each morning
• Give advance warnings before transitions
• Keep core routines consistent while allowing flexibility for special activities

3. Develop Strong Communication Skills for Working with Children

Effective communication forms the foundation of any successful relationship with children. This includes both how you speak to children and, equally important, how well you listen to them.

When communicating with children, get down to their physical level, use clear language, and check for understanding. Active listening—where you give your full attention, maintain eye contact, and reflect back what you’ve heard—shows children that their thoughts and feelings matter.

Our Camp New York counselors practice “full-body listening” and encourage children to express themselves through various means, including art, movement, and structured discussion circles. We’ve found that children who feel truly heard are more likely to listen to and respect others.

4. Understand Child Development and Age-Appropriate Expectations

Working with children effectively requires understanding developmental milestones and setting realistic expectations based on age and individual capabilities. What’s appropriate for a 5-year-old differs significantly from what works for a 12-year-old.

At Camp New York, we design activities with developmental stages in mind. For example, younger campers (ages 5-7) engage in shorter activities with more transitions, while older campers (ages 10-12) can sustain longer, more complex projects. Understanding these differences helps prevent frustration and builds children’s confidence as they master skills appropriate to their development.

5. Foster Social Skills Through Guided Interactions

Children develop crucial social skills through their interactions with peers and adults. Working with children effectively means creating opportunities for positive social engagement while providing the guidance needed to navigate social challenges.

At Camp New York, we intentionally incorporate cooperative games, partner activities, and small group projects that require communication and collaboration. When conflicts arise—as they naturally will—we use these moments as valuable teaching opportunities rather than simply resolving the issue for the children.

Our “Peace Path” conflict resolution process guides children through identifying the problem, expressing their feelings, listening to others’ perspectives, and brainstorming solutions together. This structured approach helps children develop empathy, negotiation skills, and emotional regulation—abilities that serve them well beyond their time at camp.

6. Provide Appropriate Choices and Decision-Making Opportunities

Offering children age-appropriate choices empowers them, builds decision-making skills, and reduces power struggles. When working with children, the key is providing limited, appropriate options rather than overwhelming them with too many choices or questions that are beyond their developmental capacity.

At Camp New York, we structure choice-making throughout the day. For example, during craft time, campers might choose between three project options rather than facing unlimited possibilities. During free time, we create distinct activity zones that children can move between based on their interests.

We’ve found that children who regularly practice making small decisions in supportive environments develop greater independence and confidence in their judgment. They’re also more cooperative when limits are necessary because they’ve experienced autonomy in other areas.

7. Model and Teach Emotional Regulation Strategies

Children are still developing the ability to understand and manage their emotions. Working with children effectively means both modeling healthy emotional regulation yourself and explicitly teaching strategies children can use when experiencing big feelings.

At Camp New York, we incorporate “feelings check-ins” throughout the day and normalize all emotions while distinguishing between feelings and behaviors. Our counselors demonstrate calm responses to frustration and openly discuss the strategies they’re using: “I’m feeling frustrated right now, so I’m going to take three deep breaths before we continue.”

We teach children simple regulation techniques like “balloon breathing” (deep breathing), the “turtle technique” (stepping back from a situation), and emotion labeling. These practical tools help children develop emotional intelligence that serves them in all areas of life.

8. Embrace Experiential Learning and Child-Led Discovery

Children learn most effectively through hands-on experiences and self-directed exploration. When working with children, creating opportunities for experiential learning leads to deeper understanding and greater engagement than lecture-style instruction.

At Camp New York, we follow the principle that “experience is the best teacher.” Rather than simply explaining how plants grow, campers plant their own seeds and observe the growth process. Instead of lecturing about teamwork, they experience its value through collaborative challenges that can only be solved together.

We balance structured activities with time for child-led discovery, where counselors serve as facilitators rather than directors. This approach nurtures children’s natural curiosity, builds problem-solving skills, and helps them develop a love of learning that extends far beyond specific content knowledge.

9. Focus on Effort and Process Rather Than Perfection

When working with children, emphasizing effort, improvement, and the learning process creates a growth mindset that builds resilience and intrinsic motivation. Children who understand that mistakes are valuable learning opportunities approach challenges with greater confidence and persistence.

At Camp New York, we practice “process praise” rather than outcome-focused or person-focused praise. Instead of “You’re so smart!” or “What a perfect drawing!” our counselors say things like “I noticed how hard you worked on that problem” or “You tried several different approaches until you found one that worked.”

We create an environment where taking healthy risks and making mistakes is normalized and even celebrated. Our “Mistake of the Day” sharing circle allows counselors and campers to discuss something that didn’t go as planned and what they learned from it, reinforcing that learning is a journey, not a destination.

10. Practice Self-Care and Maintain Your Enthusiasm

The final essential tip for working with children effectively is to prioritize your own well-being. Children are incredibly perceptive and quickly pick up on adult emotions and energy levels. Maintaining genuine enthusiasm and patience requires intentional self-care practices.

At Camp New York, we emphasize counselor wellness through scheduled breaks, peer support systems, and regular check-ins. We recognize that working with children is both physically and emotionally demanding, requiring counselors to replenish their energy reserves regularly.

Simple practices like taking deep breaths between activities, staying hydrated, celebrating small victories, and maintaining perspective during challenging moments help our staff bring their best selves to their work with children. Remember that modeling self-care for children teaches them this important life skill as well.

Putting These Tips into Practice When Working with Children

Working with children effectively is both an art and a science, requiring a balance of structured guidance and flexible responsiveness. The ten tips we’ve shared reflect our philosophy at Camp New York that children thrive when they feel safe, respected, and engaged in meaningful experiences.

Whether you’re a parent seeking to create more positive interactions at home, an educator looking to enhance your classroom management, or someone considering a career working with children, these strategies provide a foundation for success. Remember that building relationships with children takes time, consistency, and genuine care—but the rewards of seeing a child grow, learn, and flourish are immeasurable.