If you’re a playschool teacher, parents will entrust you with their children, but you will know that parents also need to be actively involved in their children’s education and development.  To make sure that the parents are involved, you need to communicate with them in an effective manner. Effective communication will help to create harmony between what the children learn at home and what they learn at playschool.

 

Here are some essential parent-teacher communication skills you need if you are a playschool teacher:

 

Understanding children as individuals:

It is important to see and understand children as individuals. The development levels of children differ, and this affects how they need to be taught and how they respond to their teachers. Some children are more independent from a young age, while others may still need a lot of guidance and help from the teacher. Understanding the children as individuals will help you to communicate in an effective way with parents about the children’s learning and development.

 

Also read: An Introductory Guide to the Stages of Childhood Development

 

Offering parents the opportunity to get involved:

Children need their teacher and their parents to be actively involved in their learning. This helps children feel more confident and supported throughout their learning experience. Parents need to be kept informed about what is happening in the classroom. They also need to be guided in how to help and encourage their children, and how to get involved in their learning. As the teacher, it is your responsibility to inform parents about the activities done at school, to let them know how they can support their children, and to let them know how much involvement is needed from their end.

 

Being approachable and having regular conversations with parents:

Keeping the communication channels open with parents gives them insight into their children’s progress. Instead of simply handing out report cards, progress reports, and notes, invite parents in for conversations about their children. This can make them feel included, make them feel that you as the teacher are approachable, and encourage them to work with you for the benefit of their children. It is also a great opportunity for you to understand the children better and for the parents to ask questions.

 

While it is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure that learning takes place in the classroom, it is the parents’ responsibility to support both the child and the teacher by ensuring that they play an active role in the child’s learning journey.

The journey of a child’s learning starts at home; it is further moulded in the classroom, and it needs to continue being nurtured at home. As a teacher, you play a crucial role in this learning experience, and you therefore need to ensure that communication between you and the parents is open and effective. You can do this by understanding the children as individuals, offering parents the opportunity to get involved, and having regular conversations with parents. This way, the children benefit from a support system that functions as a team.

 

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