Training in day care centers often requires parental involvement and just how the teachers can or must be communicating with parents about their children. We sometimes forget that actually talking to parents doesn’t come as easily to others as it does to a child therapist.
Communicating with parents has grown to be much more important as a result of economic factors. Our economy dictates that most families need two incomes. Many families might not choose this, but the reality is that one income just doesn’tcut it anymore. From a very young age, sometimes as young as four to six weeks, kids are dropped off in childcare while mom and dad work. Oftentimes, youngsters are in another person’s care for 8 to10 hours each day. The stress and the guilt that follow are usually the reasons that parents take care of their children the way they do and the way children behave as they do.
Why doesn’t Mrs. Smith realize that her daughter, Susie, doesn’t like the yolk of an egg? She packs it everyday and Susie just throws it away.
Mom is busy and probably attempting to pack a wholesome lunch for her daughter. Odds are, nobody informed her that it’s being thrown away everyday. Observant teachers should tell Susie’s mom, in a polite way, that Susie just doesn’t appear to like those egg yolks and ask what she would like to be done with them. Save them? Discard them?
Family therapists stress that communication is paramount. Teachers need to talk with parents, but parents also have to speak with teachers. Find out! There are a few simple ways to encourage that communication. In this technological world it doesn’t always have to be carried out with verbal communication. Any means necessary should be employed to communicate for the child.
- Email. Virtually all of us have an email address nowadays, even on their mobile phone. A simple email can communicate a great deal, even if it’s “I noticed Susie throws her egg yolks away everyday. Does she do that at home, or is it just here?”
- Text. Many busy parents can stop to text during a work meeting, but can’t take a phone call. A teacher can respond to a text when she gets a break at naptime.
- Communication notebook. Parents can buy an inexpensive spiral notebook and throw it in the child’s backpack. They can write a quick note to let the teacher/parent know whatever has to be communicated. For instance, “Susie was up late last night for a family party and didn’t get much sleep. She might be cranky or need more time at nap time.” Or, “Susie took a really long nap today, more than usual.”
- Pictures. A photo can say a thousand words. Take a quick snapshot of Susie at play with her friends or after she completed building that block castle that she is really proud of. Or, parents can share a photograph of Susie at home in her own backyard on the swing set.
To sum up, it is very important to keep in mind that things change. Therapy with children shows us how the economy has stressed us out more than ever and society has put pressures on parents and teachers alike. What hasn’t changed is our responsibility to children. Parents and teachers must communicate respectfully and honestly on behalf of children to enable them to grow to their highest potential.