Children are often wary of new people. It is not uncommon for even the most outgoing children to hide behind their parents' legs when the new babysitter/nanny arrives. It's hard not to take it personally, but I have found that the best method to winning over a new charge is a polite hello and then basically ignoring them until they make the first move. I engage the parents and ask questions about the household, finding topics that may encourage the child to speak to me. Above all I don't pressure them. When you force the issue they are even more likely to bury their heads and cry.
This works for infants as well. When they are comfortable in their parents arms, smile and say hello, possibly taking their hand or stroking their cheek. Above all avoid getting in their face, startling them, or trying too soon to hold them. You can't rush their adjustment period and taking things slow can really help.
This is why I often plan to come early or at a time when the parents will be home in order to get to know the children. This small gesture can make all the difference when the parents leave us for the first time.
These strategies don't always prevent the tears, but we'll save my tricks for calming children for another post.
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