Which statements describe general and age-specific strategies for developing a trusting relationship?

• A. Playing and creative activities (younger children)
• B. Sports & games (middle childhood/adolescence)
• C. Drawing, collage-making, and writing on a board
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Trust is built through developmentally appropriate interactions that invite students to engage safely and openly. For younger children, play and creative activities create a warm, non-threatening space where adults show responsiveness and attunement, laying the foundation for trust. In middle childhood and adolescence, sports and games offer structured collaboration, clear norms, and opportunities for reliable, respectful interaction that solidify trust over time. Art-based tasks like drawing, collage-making, and writing on a board provide a way to express thoughts and feelings and share meaning, which helps students feel seen and understood. Since each approach aligns with different ages and social needs, all of these strategies contribute to developing trusting relationships.