Message in a Backpack鈩� Building Partnerships with Your Child鈥檚 Teacher
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Children鈥檚 first and most important teachers are the family members who keep them safe and nurture their development. When a child enters an early learning program, the partnership between families and educators ensures that the experience is comforting and successful for all. In high-quality programs, leaders and teachers strive for respectful, reciprocal communication with families. They communicate clearly and regularly with families; they also seek information from families in听various ways.
Here are some ways you can communicate with your child鈥檚 teacher or program leader to create and maintain a听great relationship.
1. Look for opportunities to communicate early on.听Your child鈥檚 first weeks at an early learning program are filled with activities. This is true whether they have attended a program for a long time or are brand-new. While there鈥檚 a lot of information to take in, this is also a good time to ask questions about the program and your child鈥檚 teachers. Carefully review any information the program听shares鈥攚hether听it鈥檚 via email, on a secure website, or through papers sent home. If you have questions or need any听clarification, ask.
2. Share information about your child.听This includes their skills, preferences, interests, experiences, and needs.听Update this information regularly. The more teachers understand what makes your child unique, the more they can meet their needs, encourage progress, and celebrate accomplishments听every day.
3. Look beyond the questionnaire.听Programs often ask families to fill out a questionnaire about their children. While this is valuable, consider sharing information in additional ways. These could include videos or audio recordings of your child playing, singing a song, or having a conversation. You also might teach program staff useful and comforting words in your home language to make communication with your听child easier.
4. Communicate information about home.听Let educators know if something unusual or stressful is happening in your child鈥檚 life. This might include a move, a change in the family鈥檚 typical schedule, an upsetting event, or a challenging behavior on the way to school. Likewise, share changes in your child鈥檚 development or behavior, such as a new sleep pattern or a new fine or large听motor ability.
5. Voice your questions and concerns.听You know your child best. When you have a question or concern about them or their experience in the program, reach out to program staff to talk听about it.
6. Let teachers know how you want to communicate.听Tell them which language you prefer and how you like to get information鈥攚hether it鈥檚 via phone, text, email, paper, or听a combination.
7. Be responsive.听Call the program to let them know if your child will be late or absent, and respond to communication听as needed.
Remember that you and your child鈥檚 teachers are partners in supporting your child鈥檚 early education and well-being. The more teachers know about your child, the better they can support play, learning, and development. Likewise, the more that you know about how your child is spending their day, the better you can support learning听at home.
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Download the PDF for this Message in a Backpack鈩� here!
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This piece is adapted from 鈥淏uilding a Partnership with Your Child鈥檚 Teacher,鈥� by the authors, on 51吃瓜网鈥檚 For Families site. The authors also have written听Families & Educators Together: Building Great Relationships that Support Young Children,听which was published by 51吃瓜网 in 2019.
Photos听漏 Getty Images
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