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(Unit 4) Topic 3: Family and Community Partnerships

3 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Parent Questions and Concerns 

​Topic 3 Page 12

​At some point all teachers will encounter a parent who has questions or concerns regarding the care of their child, concern about events at the center, or is angry about a situation. In many instances, you may not be able to resolve the situation for the parent. Referring the parent to the center director is the best way to assist the parent in resolving the concern. If the concern is a classroom situation, such as a missing coat, listen to the parent’s concern and help the parent find the coat. When situations escalate, directing the parent to the center director or the administrator in charge is the best way to resolve the parent concern.

Educators are not expected to have a solution for every problem or an answer for every question; however, they are expected to acknowledge a parent’s concern and attempt to find a solution or refer the parent to another resource. Defuse with sympathy!

Parents may become angry if a child care provider is unable to find an immediate solution to a parent’s concern.  Remember that anger can be defused with sympathy.  Child care providers should tell the parents that they understand their feelings and they are going to continue to work until a solution can be found. For example, Tommy tells his parents that Johnny is bullying him every afternoon.  The parents share this information with the child care provider and ask that she confront Johnny immediately to correct the behavior. The teacher tells the parents that she has not witnessed the behavior, but she will monitor Johnny closely and intervene if or when he exhibits a bullying behavior.  In this instance, the educator has stated a course of action that should solve the problem.

Handout: Conflict Resolution Tips

Empowering and supporting families is the best way to provide long lasting support for children.  ​

​Obstacles to Partnerships
When care providers are unable to connect with family members—who themselves may be struggling with guilt or worry about leaving their child in another’s care—this can lead to “emotional powder kegs​”. ​
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Common reasons for conflict include:

• Lack of time and few opportunities for communication
• Lack of understanding and appreciation of backgrounds (culture, education, communication style, job status, income, class, race, religion, language, etc.)
• Differences in values and views of children
• Mismatch in modes of communication

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​Real partnerships between home and child care are possible when conflicts are recognized and resolved.  Remember that YOU are the professional—the families of children in your care are the clients or customers. All parties want the best for the children involved.   

​Just like the first step to creating relationships with children is to establish trust, the same is true with their families. Once trust is established, a positive relationship can deepen into one of shared decision making, paving the way for positive conflict resolution. It is expected that professionals will work with confidentiality, kindness, and respect.     

Other keys to successfully creating trusting partnerships include:   

• Welcoming families: The tone of the relationship is set from the beginning so treating newly enrolled families with respect and encouragement is essential.  Be sure to continue greeting families warmly every day.  
• Open communication​: Create an environment of continuity, with consistent expectations and approaches for children at home and child care.   
• Positive communication: Really hearing families (active listening) and using “I statements” when speaking.
• Involvement: Engage families in their children’s care, and support the family’s role as the primary educator.  
• Building parental self-esteem: Find genuine means for communicating how important they are to their child.
• ​Encouraging competence: Compliment their efforts, notice their child’s successes, and treat them as knowledgeable partners.
  
• Acknowledge emotions: provide the language and the confidence that all emotions are acceptable. 

By building strong relationships with families you are more likely to provide what is best for the child you both care for.

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