National Network for Child Care's
Connections Newsletter
Annette T. Fitzgerald
Extension Educator, Home Economist
Cooperative Extension System
University of Connecticut, Torrington, CT.
Children, child care providers, parents and administrators can all benefit from
positive parent relationships. Behavior problems can be improved if there is
positive interaction between the parent, child, and child care provider.
Frequent exchange of information about the child's strengths, progress, and
needed changes is essential.
One common bond between parents and child care providers is likely to be lack of
time. Parents, child care providers and administrators are pressured by demands
at home and at work. Although notes, phone calls, conferences and personal
visits absorb precious time from the schedules of administrators and child care
providers, the potential rewards are great. Take time to offer a hurried parent
a cup of coffee and share personal observations about the child. Respect each
other's time constraints by choosing convenient times to get in touch.
The child is a major motivation for most parents to become involved in child
care activities, but the day care providers can help other parents by offering
opportunities to get involved. Parents who have become part of their children's
lives at the child care facility report many benefits for themselves and their
children. Those who volunteer to serve on the advisory board or committees
benefit by helping shape child care policies, and those who become knowledgeable
about their child's performance can offer the child and child care provider much
needed support and encouragement.
The following guidelines are recommended to provide positive parent relations:
-
Outline your program to parents at the
initial meeting, indicating goals of the program and parental involvement.
Let the parents know about the child's progress through informal
communications as well as a *Parent Newsletter*.
-
Involve the parents in volunteer
activities such as fundraising events.
-
Plan family activities to involve parents and children, such as a picnic or a dinner.
-
At least once a week try to spend some time talking to each parent.
-
Be fair to parents as well as children by practicing listening skills and communicating in a positive manner.
-
Involve parents early in discipline problems to prevent minor problems.
-
To improve parent-child relationships , sponsor educational programs at your facility.
Involving parents in the child care
program may use valuable time but the process will build a quality experience
for all involved.
DOCUMENT
USE/COPYRIGHT
National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the National Extension
Service
Children Youth and Family Educational Research Network. Permission is granted to
reproduce
these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only (not for
profit beyond the cost of
reproduction) provided that the author and Network receive acknowledgment and
this notice is included:
Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC.
Fitzgerald, A. T. (1996). Building positive parent relations. In Todd, C.M.
(Ed.), *Child care center connections*, 5(3), Urbana-Champaign, IL:
University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service.
