CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK
When working with your providers, feedback is very important. This allows the provider to evaluate how they are doing. As adults, we don’t often praise our own accomplishments. We feel as if we are bragging to say, “Look what a great job I did.” Therefore, when you show your providers you notice even small things, it gives them a feeling that their efforts are appreciated.
When training adults, feedback is essential for them to be able to evaluate their progressing toward reaching a goal or mastering a new skill. Your feedback also help’s your providers stay motivated to keep trying to reach a goal. Getting encouraging feedback will also motivate your providers to set new goals.
Providers can also be motivated by the feedback they get from the children when they try a new activity or practice.
For example: You suggest to the provider that she serve a more variety of vegetables. She doubts the children will eat them. You give her a few fun recipes that introduce new vegetables. The children love the new vegetables. When you follow up ask the provider what feedback she got from the children. Praise her for trying and encourage her to try other new foods.
Feedback needs to be specific.
For example: You would not want to simply say, “good” or “good job”. This feedback does not give the provider the kind of valuable information she needs to evaluate what she did ‘good’. Telling a provider, “you have a good daycare.” Does not tell her what is good about her daycare. Instead say, “I love the way you have put together that reading corner for the children. They have easy access to books and a comfortable place to sit while looking at the books.” This specifically tells the provider what she has done that is ‘good’. It also validates the provider’s efforts on behalf of the children.
Feedback also acknowledges what goals have been accomplished and an opportunity to set new goals.
For example, “Do you think you could add story time to each day’s schedule?”
But what about negative feedback? Occasionally you have to give negative feedback to your providers. Always start with something positive and be specific.
Your correction plan for a provider should look like this:
POSITIVE FEEDBACK ---- CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK ---- MORE POSITIVE FEEDBACK
For example: Now that you have that wonderful reading area, I noticed you do not have very many books for the children. I would be happy to give you a list of some great books for your reading area. Do you think you might add some before
my next visit? The children are going to love this reading area!”
Your feedback should always be to the point and specific. This reinforces learning. It helps the provider to see what she needs to do to meet her goals.