I was fortunate enough to be able to talk to Matt, an evolutionary psychologist / education officer in SPCA (full disclosure that Matt's interview was not on behalf of SPCA but of his own). We went through the psychology of people and how children react to adults and vice versa. Matt also got into how children perceive what is dangerous and safe through the way adults react.
"When bringing in children into a new situation, you need to give them as much information as you can. Show them you're not afraid. Show them you've got control... and this is where they test you."
-Matt Mitchell
Matt uses behavioural management in terms of managing children wherein he describes it as making children feel secure, safe and happy. Information plays a huge part in this. If you bring them into a context they don't understand, you need to explain beforehand HOW THINGS WORK. (I got to see what he meant by this afterwards, Matt asked me to stay and observe as he was interacting with children in a birthday party in SPCA)
