Evaluation, Maintenance and Enhancement of Teacher-Child Relationship

Based on the manager’s perspective

Authors

  • Min Li
  • Wanzhen Feng

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/7qbpxq14

Keywords:

Teacher-Child Relationship, Evaluation, Maintenance, Enhancement

Abstract

This study investigates the current evaluation, maintenance, and enhancement of teacher-child relationships in Chinese kindergartens from managers' perspective. Through in-depth interviews conducted with 21 kindergarten managers from various provinces and followed by coding and analysis of the interview data. The research findings indicate that: (1) Kindergartens primarily evaluate teacher-child relationships through observations by managers (71.19%), parents' feedback (22.03%), and the use of teacher-child scales (7.69%). (2) Three key strategies were employed, effective management practices (53.45%), provision of professional development opportunities (33.62%), and the inclusion of stakeholders in activity-centered approaches (12.93%), to ensure the establishment of positive relationships between teachers and children. (3) Problem-oriented interventions (70.15%) and proactive positive education (29.85%) are identified as effective approaches to assist teachers in improving teacher-child relationships. Research recommendations include the utilization of a wider array of technologies and scales to comprehensively evaluate teacher-child relationships from diverse perspectives; the creation of conducive environments for teacher-child interaction and parent-teacher communication to safeguard teacher-child relationships; and the implementation of more positive education initiatives to aid teachers in enhancing teacher-child relationships.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Laura L. Brock & Timothy W. Curby. Emotional Support Consistency and Teacher-Child Relationships Forecast Social Competence and Problem Behaviors in Prekindergarten and Kindergarten [J]. Early Education and Development, 2014 (25):661-680.

[2] Choi J Y , Dobbs-Oates J . Teacher-Child Relationships: Contribution of Teacher and Child Characteristics[J]. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 2016, 30(1):15-28.

[3] Peisner-Feinberg, E. S., Burchinal, M. R., Clifford, R. M., Culkin, M. L., Howes, C., Kagan, S. L., & Zelazo, J. (1999). The children of the cost, quality, and outcomes study go to school: Technical report. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center.

[4] Ewing, A. R., & Taylor, A. R. (2009). The role of child gender and ethnicity in teacher-child relationship quality and children’s behavioral adjustment in preschool. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 24, 92 –105. doi:10.1016/j. ecresq.2008.09.002

[5] Pianta, R. C. (1999). Enhancing relationships between children and teachers. Lutz, FL: American Psychological Association.

[6] Sheldon,Kennon M.,and Sonja Lyubomirsky. How to increase and sustain positive emotion: The effects of expressing gratitude and visualizing best possible selves[J].The Journal of Positive ,2010(3): 35.

[7] Lyubomirsky,Sonja,Rene Dickerhoof,Julia K Boehm,and Kennon M Sheldon. Becoming happier takes both a will and a proper way: an experimental longitudinal intervention to boost well -being[J].Emotion (Washington,D.C.).2011(2): 2-5.

[8] Ma, W. H. (2015). Where is happiness? [Master’s thesis, Northwest Normal University].

[9] Xu, H. (2019). Education through dependency: Constructing emotional teacher-child relationships. China Education Journal, (5), 53–57.

[10] Li, H. Y., Zhang, Q., & Qin, L. (2017). A review of contemporary research on teacher-child relationships domestically and internationally. Education and Teaching Research, 31(4), 16–20+26.

[11] Lu, Y. (2019). Problems and countermeasures of building good teacher-child relationships in rural kindergartens. Rural Consultant, (9), 13+76.

[12] Wang, Y., Wang, X. H., & Zhang, H. C. (2001). Teacher-student relationships among pupils in grades 3–6: Structure, types, and development. Psychological Development and Education, 17(3), 16–21.

[13] Feng, W. Z., & Hong, X. N. (2019). A comparison and reference of three American models for improving teacher-child relationships. China Education Journal, (4), 84–88.

[14] Q. Q. Xu : A study on teachers’ emotions in teacher-child interactions (Master, Nanjing Normal University, China 2013),p.58.

[15] Xiong, B. Q. (2012, November 30). Rather than having parents evaluate ethics, establish parent committees. United Times, p. 004.

[16] Wang, Q. C., & Song, L. S. (2019). Practical exploration of effective use of social resources in kindergartens. Forest Area Teaching, (1), 115–117.

[17] Rebecca Kennedy: See the child. (CITIC Publishing Group, China 2023), p125-128.

Downloads

Published

13 October 2025

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Li, M., & Feng, W. (2025). Evaluation, Maintenance and Enhancement of Teacher-Child Relationship: Based on the manager’s perspective. International Journal of Education and Humanities, 21(1), 121-126. https://doi.org/10.54097/7qbpxq14