Opening the Lines of Communication

Parents and caregivers are a team. To provide the best care possible this team has to have an open line of communication. Pick-up time at the end of the day is hectic, and it is difficult for a provider to talk with parents as much as they would like.

Give the parents a daily report. Make a standard form and include what was served for lunch and how much the child ate, how long they napped, and what special activities they participated in. Parents will appreciate being able to go over their child’s day when they have a quiet moment in the evening.

Buy each family an inexpensive spiral notebook. Jot down some quick notes each day or write those things you never remember to tell a family until they have gone home. Let the parents do the same. The notebook also makes a wonderful keepsake when it is full. It functions as sort of a journal of the child’s days.

Try to arrange for activities during pick-up time that do not require a lot of supervision so you can take a moment to talk to parents.

Don’t focus on the negative when communicating with a parent. Even if a child had a difficult day, try to put some good in the report too. Maybe Josh hit Megan, but he also helped clean up after art time.

Ask parents for their advice. No one knows their child like they do. Maybe something they do at home to manage behavior can help you, and it will make the parent more involved in their child’s care while they are at work. Ask parents for activity suggestions too.

Plan activities in your curriculum that can be taken home and brought back to daycare. Lend books for mom and dad to read at home. Do a family unit and have mom and dad help with a simple family tree. Send a coloring page home that can come back to decorate the bulletin board. The possibilities are endless and each theme can produce an activity shared by the children and their parents.

Communication is key and a parents involvement in their care will determine the success of the child, not only in daycare, but also in school. Open those lines. Find time to talk to parents and keep them active. It really will make your job easier and much more enjoyable.

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