Building better bonds with parents

Building and maintaining a strong relationship with the parents in your service offers many benefits, to the children themselves, but also to the network of talents, abilities and resources available to you.

However, with most families using early childhood education and care services so parents can go to work, the opportunities to build these relationships may be few and far between. Often contact is limited to brief catch-ups in the morning and afternoon and this is usually to relay information about the child’s day and any issues or developments which occurred.

Although it's tricky, and everyone is busy, making an effort to reach out to parents and engage them pays off, and will strengthen the effectiveness and sense of commitment families have towards your service. Families want to belong and feel a sense of community and by reaching out in new and innovative ways you will consolidate the bonds between you and the families, delivering great results for children and new opportunities to enhance your service offering.

Edna Wallace, an early childhood educator and director, offers these suggestions for providers looking for easy ways to reach out to families and build strong, lasting and productive relationships:

Parents and Teachers Working Together

Parents have good ideas. They know their children well, have their best interests in mind, and have taken a giant leap of faith by placing them in your care. Listening to their collective voice is a wise thing to do. Together you can create a great environment for children.

Suggestion Box

A suggestion box gives shy parents an easy way to communicate, an unhappy parent a way to vent, a supportive parent an avenue for making helpful suggestions, and the happy parent a way to shower you with compliments. Place the box, index cards, and pencils in an easily accessible location, but out of the way - a place that assures some privacy and anonymity. Be sure to check the box frequently.

Parent Survey

A survey will tell you how your program meets the needs of your families. What do they like most about the program? Would they like extended or evening care? Make the survey short, do it online, conduct it yearly, and provide some type of incentive so that parents will return it.

Parent Committee

Enlisting a group of helpful, concerned parents is one of the best ways to demonstrate that you want to create a true partnership. If you haven't done this before, it might be a little threatening at first. Parents may make suggestions that are impossible because of budget or policy constraints. That's when brainstorming collectively proves that many heads are better than one. If a suggestion comes up that can be delegated to a parent, don't hesitate, just do it!

Communication Connections

Including parents in day-to-day activities creates a sense of belonging, a foundation for building trust and loyalty. There are many effective ways to communicate your philosophy, your centre or classroom in action, and ongoing child-related issues.

Parent Handbook

Creating a handbook for easy reference is one of the most effective ways to communicate your philosophy, policies, and procedures to parents.

Newsletters and Memos

No news is bad news. It's imperative to keep parents informed of what's happening. In newsletters and memos, everything can be shared from child rearing tips to the daily menu and field trip schedule. Even though some parents appear not to read what you've tirelessly written, think about the ones who do! There are plenty of electronic platforms which you can use to create and distribute newsletters and they don’t need to be fancy or long. Quick and simple updates work best for time-poor parents.

Parent Support Programs and Seminars

Learning more about brain and child development, literacy, children with special needs, the power of play, and a host of other topics are important to parents. Hosting a speaker and education evenings are excellent ways to share knowledge. To cut down on expenses and labour intensity, consider sponsoring such a seminar with another program or inviting parents to a staff development workshop.

Family Visits

A lot can be learned from visiting a child's home. This effort of reaching out can also break down barriers; families often feel most comfortable on their own turf.

Creating an Environment for Parents

If you're in the field of early care and education, you're probably a very nurturing person. Reaching out to parents, nurturing the strengths in their families, and creating an environment where they feel special and needed is a necessary step in creating partnerships.

Roll Out the Red Carpet

Make sure parents know they are always welcome. It's not easy to put on a smile and say, "come on in" if ACECQA is inspecting or if you're elbow deep in plaster of Paris, but it's the right thing to do. When parents feel welcome, and when they see you in action, their respect for you and what you do is reinforced.

Bulletin Boards and Picture Albums

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Telling about a teacher's hobbies is one thing, but posting a picture of one of the educators snorkelling in Fiji, is even better. Place picture albums on a table depicting field trip excursions or story time books. Consider featuring a family or child. Pass on information by posting interesting articles, reminders, and a calendar of events.

Copy Cat

Parents may not know the words to songs you sing in the service during circle time but they catch snippets of it from their children. Share these early learning experiences by copying the words of favourite songs and finger plays about once a month so that parents can sing or play along and feel involved and at least as intelligent as their children!

Lending Library or Resource Centre

When it comes to their children, parents are consumers of information. The child care setting is an excellent place to house the best books for children along with handouts for parents, parenting books, and videos. Boxes filled with dramatic play props for creating offices, beauty salons, and grocery stores can provide welcome relief to families on a rainy weekend. Puppets, manipulatives, and games will also be appreciated.

Tapping Into Talent

Parents generally love to offer a helping hand, especially if they feel appreciated for what they do well. Look carefully at your families and jot down beside their name what they may be able to help you with.

Parents as Volunteers

Parents, grandparents, even older siblings are often willing and able volunteers. Working parents may not be available to assist in the classroom or chaperone a field trip but may be happy to repair books or cut out shapes for the flannel board. Make sure parents know that little things mean a lot, and resist the temptation to burden a helpful parent with too much volunteering. Have a brainstorming session to come up with all the things you could accomplish if you had the work force, and then create a list of things that need to be done and share it with your families.

Parents as Referrals

Happy, satisfied parents will spread the word about your program to their relatives, friends, and neighbours without being asked to do so. Go one step further by making a list of parents willing to talk with prospective clients. Only a parent can enthusiastically tell their personal story of how Johnny's teacher saved the day when she recovered his first tooth from the apple core that was tossed in the garbage. Parents don't talk about 'dedicated teachers', they talk by using personal anecdotes.

Parents as Fundraisers

Do you yearn for a certain piece of playground equipment or new cots for naptime? Tell your parents. If you can motivate them, you've taken a giant step forward in attaining what you need. Fundraisers take many forms from garage sales and silent auctions to selling refrigerator magnets and publishing cookbooks. Listen to your parents to learn what they are willing to get behind and support.

Parents as Wish-Granting Wizards

Do you have a wish list that includes everything from empty thread spools to rocking chairs, and a video camera? Publish and update your list regularly so parents know what you need. Remember to write a thank you note for donated items. A big banner of children's handprints or thank you notes written as only a child can, will warm the heart of anyone, and it's a great way to involve parents and make them feel appreciated.

Revitalise your program by capturing and nurturing the imagination and support of your parents. Listen, respond, involve, and appreciate. It makes your job easier and provides the best for children.
 

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These tips were originally published in Early Childhood News and were written by Edna Wallace.