Communicating With Your Provider
© Julie Renaud
You did the research. You chose a caregiver you feel good about. So there shouldn't be any problems - ever - right? Not necessarily. No matter how great your child care program is, there will be times when you have concerns about the care your child is receiving.
Some concerns you might have:
Parents are often reluctant to discuss problems with their caregiver. It's awkward to question someone about how they run their business or treat your child. If the caregiver is a friend or a relative it can be even more difficult. Here are some tips for handling the situation.
You may be tempted to move your child to a new program rather than confront the provider. That is certainly an option. But before you put your child and yourself through another transition, try to work things out. Frequent moves or tension between you and the caregiver may cause your child more harm than the original concern. However, if you feel your child is in physical or mental danger, make new arrangements immediately.
Some concerns you might have:
- What you think is best for your child is different from what the caregiver thinks is best.
- Another child hurts your child.
- You disagree about discipline methods.
- You disagree with a fee, schedule or policy change.
- You believe the child care provider has broken a child care regulation.
Parents are often reluctant to discuss problems with their caregiver. It's awkward to question someone about how they run their business or treat your child. If the caregiver is a friend or a relative it can be even more difficult. Here are some tips for handling the situation.
- Look over any policies your provider gave you when you enrolled your child. You may find the answer to your question or the policy may serve as a way to start the conversation.
- Do not discuss the problem with other parents rather than the provider. Other parents are not in a position to resolve anything.
- Try to discuss concerns with the provider right away, before they get worse or are so far in the past that a solution is no longer possible.
- Talk to your caregiver away from the children and at a time when you can both give the discussion your undivided attention.
- Stay calm. Thinks about what you want to say and how you will say it. Write it down if it helps.
- Talk about the specific problem, no general statements or name-calling.
- Don't put the caregiver on the defensive. Include things you like about the program in your discussion.
- Ask for her suggestions and then be open to her ideas.
- Agree on a way to work on the problem together and a time to meet again to evaluate if the solution is working for everyone.
You may be tempted to move your child to a new program rather than confront the provider. That is certainly an option. But before you put your child and yourself through another transition, try to work things out. Frequent moves or tension between you and the caregiver may cause your child more harm than the original concern. However, if you feel your child is in physical or mental danger, make new arrangements immediately.
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The copyright of the article Communicating With Your Provider in Child Care Information is owned by Julie Renaud. Permission to republish Communicating With Your Provider in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
