Articles
How Preschool Educators Can Work With And Build Strong Partnerships with Families
It takes a village to raise a child. That old adage rings just as true today, where cooperation between parents and early childhood educators remains key to addressing developmental concerns, behavioural issues, and child protection matters within childcare centres. But this can only be achieved in an environment that encourages open, honest, and compassionate dialogue.
Making families feel heard and valued should therefore be a top priority for early childhood educators. This will allow parents and educators to collaboratively identify strategies that create better outcomes for children. In this article, Lead Senior Lecturer of NIEC (City) Campus, Ms Christine Soo Mee Ling, will take us through strategies that early childhood educators can use to communicate with parents, as well as some anecdotes on how she has personally dealt with unique situations.
A general guide to family communication
When responding to parental concerns, communication errors may lead to damaged trust or conflict escalation, even when educators have no intention of doing so. Educators, therefore, need to understand and apply the right tactics according to the needs of families when handling delicate situations.
Time and place for everything
Issues big and small should never be ignored, but some things are better discussed in private. Such topics may include (but are not limited to) finances, health, and interpersonal relations. Scheduling private meetings to discuss solutions away from other educators, parents, and students will help families feel secure and comfortable to speak up.
“We were once unable to accept a child into a class due to outstanding fees. Understandably, this caused the father distress as he felt lost and unsupported, particularly since the family was facing financial difficulties. With respectful and empathetic communication, we settled on an arrangement where school fees (after funding) would be paid via installment.”
It is also equally important to treat all concerns timely and respectfully. Be sure to follow up periodically after the initial conversation to ensure that improvements are being made. Centres can also provide educators with resources that can be shared with parents in accordance with their relevance and need.
“Validation is necessary to help parents feel seen and heard. After speaking with the parent, summarise the conversation to show understanding and reschedule a time to revisit the concern after gathering more information.”
Handle with care
Values and communication styles vary significantly in Singapore’s multiracial and multicultural society. Preconceived notions around religion and ethnicity should be put aside since personal convictions can differ greatly between individuals. Early childhood educators should take care not to make assumptions about a family’s background or intentions before seeking clarifications.
Educators can seek to understand rather than judge through active and empathetic listening. Once an understanding is reached, flexibility should be exercised such that interaction and communication styles can accommodate families of all backgrounds.
“Ask compassionate questions like ‘Can you tell me more?’ or ‘Can you help me understand?’. These questions are also great to use when educators are not sure where to take the conversation.”
Communicate clearly
Always remember, most parents will be unfamiliar with technical language surrounding early childhood education. Care should be taken to avoid making parents feel uninformed or even alienated from seeking clarifications. This can be done by building up a vocabulary of clear, simple, and respectful language that can be easily understood. If there is a language barrier, seek the assistance of an interpreter who is trained to deal with such situations so that nothing is lost in translation.
“Be mindful of non-verbal communication that can vary across cultures. Whenever an interpreter is present, always speak directly to the parent instead of the interpreter.”
Preschool educators: Expect the unexpected
Just as every child is different, every parent has their own unique perspectives and expectations. Developing a high level of emotional maturity is important for early childhood educators so that they can remain calm and composed should unexpected situations arise.
Provide alternative solutions
It is not uncommon to encounter parents who demand special arrangements, even when they are highly unfeasible. According to Ms Soo, one particular parent repeatedly requested to see their teacher-in-charge, even after being informed that their schedules did not align. The parent only relented after the principal explained how educators needed rest as well. An alternate channel of communication was also set up so that the parent could receive direct updates from the teacher. Ms Soo stresses the importance of centre leaders when it comes to guiding educators towards the right solutions.
“Demanding parents can create feelings of anxiety. It’s important for educators to feel supported during such situations. In this particular case, I had a conversation with the educator on how to address the issue.”
Take responsibility and show empathy
Early childhood education is a profession that requires educators to wear many hats. Educators may understandably overlook certain things amidst their hectic day-to-day schedule. When that happens, educators should continue to validate parent’s concerns and communicate respectfully in order to arrive at a solution.
For example, a parent may be upset that they were informed about their child falling down during play at the end of the day, rather than immediately after the incident occurred. In such a scenario, it’s important for educators to remain calm rather than react defensively. More often than not, what parents want is the reassurance that steps are being taken to avoid recurrence of such issues. By welcoming feedback and suggesting alternative practices, educators can reaffirm their commitment to child safety and well-being, thereby maintaining a strong, positive partnership with parents.
“Always respond with clear, factual explanations. Assure parents that you understand the importance of their concerns, and communicate the steps that you’ll take to avoid similar situations from arising.”
Home-school partnerships: A cornerstone of preschool education
Children’s learning is most effective when reinforced both in school and at home. While schools provide structured opportunities for development, the home environment plays an equally important role in supporting children’s growth and socialisation. Without consistent reinforcement, positive habits developed in school may not be sustained.
Parents therefore play an indispensable role in their children’s holistic development. By establishing open and respectful communication with educators, parents can provide educators with background knowledge that they would otherwise not be privy to, thereby empowering educators to tailor their approach and programmes according to each students’ needs. This can be as simple as updating educators about any changes in routines or the home environment during drop-offs and pick-ups, seeking clarification about classroom programmes, or collaborating with educators to ensure that the child receives consistent support both in preschool and at home.
Master the art of parent engagement
Dealing with difficult parental conversations is a rite of passage that all early childhood educators must go through. That said, educators who learn to collaborate with parents to resolve challenging situations often report better outcomes for children under their care and a more rewarding career.
Learn how you can unlock this new dimension of your career in early childhood education by browsing our catalogue of parental engagement courses.
CHRISTINE SOO
Ms Soo is an ECDA Fellow and Lead Senior Lecturer at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development (NIEC). She is committed to sharing her knowledge, skills and experiences through mentoring and teaching.
