Communication Among Teachers & Parents in Preschool Settings

Preschool is often the earliest educational experience for kids; thus, it could influence the tone for the rest of their schooling. Communication between the preschool teacher and the family plays a major role in the experience, but it's not only up to the teacher to build the relationship. You can support your child's early childhood learning by actively participating in the school-to-home communication process.

  1. Benefits

    • Sharing information with the preschool teacher benefits the young student in many ways. When the preschool teacher knows more about the child, she is better able to teach the child based on her needs. The teacher is better able to anticipate changes in the young child's behavior if she knows about a potentially distressing event going on at home, such as a move or a divorce. The parent can be more involved in the child's education when she knows what her child does at school. If she knows her child is working on letter sounds, she can reinforce the lessons at home.

    Barriers

    • Communication with your child's preschool teacher isn't always easy. Both sides of the relationship need to put in the work to build and maintain a positive relationship. Specific situations often cause barriers that make communication challenging. Parents who don't drop off or pick up their child from preschool miss out on the frequent in-person contact that allows teachers and parents to communicate easily with each other. Different opinions on how situations should be handled, varying values and differing backgrounds often cause communication barriers. Addressing barriers as soon as they arise can help resolve the issues.

    Methods

    • Communication between the preschool and your home could take place in a variety of ways. The most informal method is chatting with the teacher during drop-off or pick-up time. The conversations typically concern an event that happened at preschool that day, an ongoing problem or upcoming activities. Email messages also work for quick, informal conversations. If you need a more in-depth and private conversation with the preschool teacher, a scheduled meeting is better. Many preschools schedule regular parent-teacher conferences just like elementary schools do, so you can learn how well your preschooler is progressing. Your child's preschool teacher might also communicate with parents through newsletters or notes.

    Parent Tips

    • Your approach and attitude can set the tone for future communication with the preschool teacher. Don't project a negative or superior tone that makes the teacher uncomfortable. Talking to the teacher, even if she doesn't initiate communication often, may encourage her to take a more active role in the teacher-parent relationship. Volunteering in the classroom is another way to get involved in preschool. You can get a better idea of what goes on in the classroom and build a relationship with the teacher that makes communication easier.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Effective Discipline Techniques for the Strong-Willed Toddler
      It’s not unusual for parents to describe their toddler as strong-willed. The toddler stage of development is characterized by contradictions. For example, toddlers want to perform a task independently, but often lack the skills necessary to per
    • Out-of-Control Behavior From Toddlers to Five-Year-Olds
      Every toddler and young child throws the occasional temper tantrum, but some children throw tantrums that quickly escalate out of control. Teaching a child to maintain his self-control can prove difficult, especially with toddlers. Parents should do
    • Helping Your Child Express Anger Appropriately
      Helping Your Child Express Anger Appropriately Part of the reason two-year-olds have tantrums is because they dont have the words or other tools they need to express their anger or frustration fully or appropriately. For this, your toddler needs your