In part one of this two-part blog series, we looked at some of the simplest ways parents of young children can go about building strong rapport with their teachers and other school staff. This is important for several reasons, from developing good channels of communication to ensuring you're updated on any important developments.
At Smart Kids Development Center, we encourage and promote strong relationships between all our staff and parents for our daycare, preschool and other child care programs, offering many resources for parents -- including our Parents Handbook that has a number of tools. Today's part two of our series will go over several additional tips for building a great parent-teacher relationship with your child's best interests in mind.
While teachers and other child care staff don't require praise for every little part of their job, it's important to let them know when you notice and appreciate their efforts. Maybe your child came home and talked about a new activity they tried in school, or made a comment about how their teacher was kind to someone that day.
These are all opportunities to let the staff know you're paying attention, and that you value the job they're doing taking care of your child. Additionally, it can help build a good relationship with the staff -- one based on mutual respect.
Whenever possible, look to include yourself in any events or activities that your child's school offers. This can be anything from an open house or parent-teacher conference, to a school performance or class field trip. These are all great opportunities to see how your child interacts in their learning environment while also getting to know the staff on a more personal level.
Additionally, if you have any questions or concerns, this is the perfect time to bring them up with the staff. They'll likely appreciate your proactive attitude and be more than happy to address any issues you may have.
Even if you have what you feel are justified complaints about your child's teacher, avoid talking about them in front of your kids. Not only is this unfair to the staff member in question, but it can also confuse and upset your child. If you do have concerns, it's best to address them directly with the staff or another administrator.
Finally, it's important to remember that teachers and other school staff are experts in their field, and they're usually doing their best to provide your child with a great education. It's important to keep an open mind and trust that they have your child's best interests at heart.
Of course, if you feel like something isn't right, it's always worth following up and asking questions. But try to avoid jumping to conclusions or making assumptions, as this will only make it harder to build a good relationship with the staff.
For more on how to develop a great parent-teacher relationship that benefits your child, or to learn about any of our child care programs, speak to the team at Smart Kids Development Center today.
