Communication Between Parents and Childcare Educators is Vital
Open, honest and reciprocal communication between parents and childcare educators is crucial to building trust and positive outcomes for children in their early years. Not only does it build better relationships, but it also supports children’s well-being and learning development.
Clear and effective communication between families and early childhood staff can be achieved through a variety of communication strategies, such as open-ended questions and everyday language, to ensure that everyone understands each other. It’s essential to maintain open communication, especially when addressing concerns or challenging behaviours and to avoid misunderstandings.
Parents can offer valuable input and feedback to childcare educators on how to handle challenging behaviour and suggest realistic strategies. In addition, letting your child’s educator know about any non-verbal communication tactics such as eye contact and body language preferences can help childcare educators effectively communicate with your children. Social media and parent communication apps are also excellent tools to keep parents updated and involved in their child’s education and development.
As children start their school year or transition into a new classroom, it’s helpful for childcare educators to anticipate problems and have parents’ input in a problem-solving approach. Brainstorming solutions together and setting clear boundaries can help stop shouting and improve behaviour when introduced to unfamiliar environments like their new childcare centre. Communication involves both listening and understanding, and a flexible approach can lead to a much more rewarding experience for both the child and the family.
So, put your best foot forward and make sure you communicate openly and effectively with your child’s childcare provider to ensure that your child receives the full benefit of their learning journey.
Effective Communication with Caregivers and Teachers
Right from your very first meeting with your child’s carers and teachers, effective communication is vital. It’s important to share information about your child, their unique needs, and anything that can support their well-being in the childcare setting. This includes information about their food preferences, sleep routines, and any fears or concerns they may have.
It is important to understand that your work schedule can sometimes affect your availability to catch up with staff about your child. Make sure to discuss preferred modes of communication early on with your child’s educators so they can support you with effective communication strategies that suit your lifestyle. In addition, it is crucial to be inclusive of different gender identities and family structures. A behaviour chart can be useful in keeping track of your child’s behaviour and progress.
A Few Reasons Why the Little Things are Important:
Sleeping patterns: if your child has recently gone through a leap in their growth and sleeping patterns, this will affect their day and it may change their mood and daily routine.
New foods: if you have added a new food to your child’s palate, this could cause a delayed reaction and even stomach pains, which might impact their day and mood.
Toileting routines: if your child is showing interest in toilet training, let their educators know, they are ready, available and very willing to help with the process.
Night terrors/dreams: at around 2 years old, children start to realise that they are dreaming, although, at this age, they are yet to connect fantasy and reality. It can be a very scary process; let your child’s educators know when this starts happening, as it may cause fears around sleep and create more anxiety during drop-off times.
Don’t forget to share your challenges with your childcare educators, this will set up an open dialogue to share the experiences from home and in care with your child’s teachers.
There may be similarities or vast differences in the way your child behaves when they are at home and with childcare staff. Open communication and collaboration will help you to come to a mutual understanding that will benefit your child and their learning needs, as well as meet your personal beliefs and your own goals for your child.
Staying Involved in Your Child’s Learning and Development at Home
Out on the weekend? Notice your child is fascinated with the new scenery? Did you catch a train or a bus, and it’s now the topic of every conversation? Let your child’s educators know!
They can use this information to extend your children’s learning in different ways. If they aren’t interested in art and messy sensory play, which is vital for early learning, they can add trains, buses and cars into the play to extend their interest and get them involved. It is important to let them know what milestones you’re looking at achieving so that your child’s carers and educators can add it to the learning and development program.
How To Stay Informed:
How Families Can Support Belonging and Inclusion
If you’d like to learn more about communication strategies to support belonging and inclusion, check out Early Childhood Australia’s article on how you can support belonging and inclusion — here are some takeaways:
- To ensure that your child is receiving the best care possible in their child care service, it’s important to stay informed and involved. You can start by talking regularly with the staff and asking questions about your child’s day. This will give you a better understanding of what your child does while in their care.
- It’s also crucial to support your child’s social and emotional development by creating opportunities for them to interact with other children. Encourage your child to include and appreciate others, and give them specific and effort-focused encouragement.
- Sharing your child’s individual needs with the staff is important, too. They can use this information to plan appropriately for your child and address concerns they may be having.
- Be sure to keep yourself informed about the activities and events happening at the childcare service, and don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.
- Attending information sessions and social activities can also help you get to know other families and carers to make your child feel more comfortable in their environment.
Good communication is the key to a successful childcare experience. By openly sharing information and addressing any concerns, you can ensure that your child receives the best possible care and support.
At Discovery Childcare and Education, we understand the importance of communication and strive to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all children and families. If you have any questions about our services, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Boronia or Croydon centres.
We are here to support children’s well-being every step of the way, from starting school to making new friends and everything in between.
Together, we can help your child thrive and reach their full potential.
