As the beginning of the new school year approaches, it is an opportune time to focus on one of the most important foundations of child care: the relationship between educators and families.
Maintaining a healthy relationship among everyone involved is essential for the development and well-being of our children, but it is also important because many of them will spend a significant part of their time in child care programs in the years ahead. Educators provide an essential service to families, but at the same time, they become an extended family for the little ones who are beginning to learn about and discover the world around them.
With this in mind, I would like to share three key points that we should keep in mind when building and maintaining healthy relationships with the families of the children in our care.
- Communication
Let’s be clear with families while, at the same time, remaining respectful. Let’s avoid sarcasm and silence as forms of communication. Let’s provide information that is clear, concise, and accurate.
This does not mean that we need to communicate with families all day long about their children. Rather, it means taking advantage of drop-off and pick-up times to share a little information about the child’s development, their needs, and those small moments of joy when they learn something new, accomplish something important, or share something special.
Let’s make everyday communication a space that is open, respectful, and focused on adding value.
- Teamwork
This is very simple: the most important thing is the development and well-being of our children. Educators and families should see themselves as a team working toward each child’s development and future, creating safe, stable environments filled with opportunities to learn.
When families and educators work hand in hand, children receive an important message: there are adults around them who support them, listen to them, and want to see them grow.
- Healthy Boundaries
It is important to establish clear expectations regarding schedules, communication, responsibilities, and privacy, while always maintaining a kind and respectful relationship.
Many times, educators do more than care for our children; they also become a source of support for families in many different ways. Precisely because of this, it is important to establish clear boundaries and respect them on both sides.
Families, please remember that we also need to take care of those who care for us. Let’s respect program schedules and the privacy of our educators. Taking care of those who care for our children is also a way of building healthy relationships.
There are many other points we could discuss, but let’s focus on these three as we begin the year with a strong foundation.
Welcome to all the new families, and congratulations to our educators for all that you do and for always being there for our children and families. Here’s to a wonderful new school year!
