communication with parents

dropoff

Dropoff is a great opportunity to check in with families and find out any issues that may impact the child’s day. It’s also a great time to briefly tell parents what’s planned for that day [see Daily Program Management].

pickup

Greet the parent with a smile at pickup. Provide them with a brief summary or “snapshot” of their child’s day. Keep them informed about their child’s developmental progress and provide them with a sense of security that you are supporting their child in all aspects of personal and educational growth [see Daily Program Management].

parent-teacher meetings

Parent-teacher meetings are scheduled on an as-needed basis (meeting request forms are on the website). Types of meetings include progress reports, transitions, and/or concerns or issues identified by parents or educators.

telephone communications

Each classroom will have a phone to enable you to communicate with parents during the day. First Circle does not allow personal cell phone use to communicate with parents unless it is an emergency. Guidelines for classroom telephones:

• Use your best judgment to determine if you can answer a phone call. For example, it could be appropriate if the children in your care are napping or occupied with other activities and are being supervised by another educator in the classroom.
• If you’re unable to answer, let the call go to voicemail and return the call when it’s appropriate. Make sure the phone call is returned within 2-3 hours.
• If a phone call becomes longer than a quick communication and is hindering your ability to supervise and interact with the children, please remind parents that the best time to call is during rest time (for toddler and preschool programs), or tell them you will call back when you are able.

communicating about accident/illness

Accidents and injuries occur daily in early childhood programs. If a child has a head injury, bleeding, or bruising, notify the parent right away so you are not approaching parents with bad news at pickup. When you communicate injuries to parents, be calm and factual. Communicate the nature of the injury and what was done to treat it and to comfort the child. Notify parents by phone of any injury that happens to the head (bump, scratch, scrape, bite), whether it breaks the skin or not.

communicating about biting/aggression

Biting is a typical behavior among infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds. As children mature, gain self-control, and develop problem-solving skills, they usually outgrow it.

Biting upsets people more than any other behavior in childcare programs. Because it is upsetting and potentially dangerous, it is important that you communicate quickly and sensitively with the parents of both the child who bites and the child who is bitten.

When a child bites another child, notify the parents of all children involved. Let them know what happened but do not name or label the child who bit. Reassure them by telling how you handled the incident, and involve the parents in planning how to prevent and handle future biting. If a child bites repeatedly, develop a plan with the director [see CURRICULUM: Child Guidance section].