Nurturing Connections
Understanding Families and Their Child’s Learning
An educator in a professional learning environment quickly learns that taking care of the children also means taking care of their families. This is easier said than done however, because modern parents have identified that they are experiencing burnout, largely through working between 40 to 50 hours per week, if not more! So, how can we engage the children’s families when the last thing they need is to do more “work”?
How to Engage with Individual Families and Individual Needs
Educators are trained to treat each child individually, regardless of expected developmental levels in the child’s age group. Since the traditional construct of a family is ever-evolving, they need to be treated similarly. Educators must have a variety of methods to keep different families engaged.
In-person meetings – These are currently the standard for best practices. Some families prefer this type of involvement in their child’s learning, when possible, and appreciate reciprocal involvement from the educator.
Digital communication – Sometimes, this is the preferred method of communication, as it may be all the family has the capacity for at this time. Whether you choose a digital communication platform, or another type of online survey/questionnaire, there must be a way to connect with families who are unable or reluctant to communicate in person.
Follow cultural expectations – Some cultures have a different set of expectations with how educators and families ought to interact. Understand what these are so that you can at least meet them halfway, as a method of developing trust and engagement.
Short and Meaningful Communication
An educator must master the skill of conducting short and meaningful communications, especially in the commotion of an early years environment. Oftentimes, educators have an intention of communicating a message without considering the families’ time or capacity for listening. Family members could be in a rush or a challenging day, so it’s important to check in with them to see what type of conversation is most appropriate at these specific times.
In these situations, this is where having a digital communication app is an asset to the program. It allows for regular communication throughout the day, and has two significant benefits. Firstly, it prepares the caregiver for what has gone on in their child’s day – the challenges, the strategies, and the successes,so that before pick-up, they have the chance to widen their scope of receptive communication. Secondly, the educator is granted the flexibility of what to communicate and through which method. The daily and routine events can be shared digitally, while the more meaningful (and sometimes sensitive) messages can be relayed personally, by day’s end. Additionally, there is flexibility and this can also be swapped, depending on each family’s preference and sensitivities.
It Begins with the Child
Developing this level of trust and connection with family begins with the child, so be sure to really get to know the little ones in your classroom. An effective way to do this is by adding a self-reflection curriculum into your program. These age-appropriate “All About Me” activities will help build trust with each child that will be the gateway to more meaningful familial communications, and will open the doors to a higher level of engagement and support.
For more information on 1:1 Coaching Opportunities, reach out to Stacey Band, Founder of Home Day Hero: info@homedayhero.com
If you have an educational program or facility and need support with streamlining your everyday processes or would like more support in managing and training your team, check out the resources from HiMama!