PARENT- PROVIDER COMMUNICATION
Parents who leave their children in your care, expect that their child will grow and develop in a healthy way. Often parents are not as knowledgeable about developmental milestones as you are. You are in the wonderful position to help these parents to appreciate what you are doing and how their child is progressing.
This fact sheet will answer the following questions:
• What information should you be communicating to the parent?
• How often should you be communicating with the parents?
• How can you communicate with the parents?
DAILY INFORMATION
Many parents appreciate any information they can get from their childcare provider to learn about their child’s day. Information that allows the parent to know what the child ate, did they have a bowel movement, how long and when did their child nap, and general behavior. This information helps the parent decide what to feed the child for supper, when to put the child to bed, if they need to discuss behavioral problem etc. A simple form sent home every day is helpful to the parents:
MARY’S CHILDCARE DAILY REPORT
Date:__________________
Today (child’s name)
(fill in about the child’s day, activities, mood, and other information)
For example: Today Sara played in the kitchen area and enjoyed pretending to cook. She also enjoyed singing and was very enthusiastic. She played outside in the sandbox in the afternoon.
This is also where you can notify the parent of any concern they should be aware of.
For Example: Sara seemed a little fussy today. She kept pulling at her ear.
Sara had a bowel movement in the afternoon.
She took a 2 hour nap from 12:30 to 2:30.
MEALS
For example:
Breakfast: milk, whole-wheat bagel, egg omelet and blueberries. Sara ate almost everything except half a bagel.
Lunch: milk, Chicken breast, mashed potatoes and homemade applesauce. Sara ate everything on her plate. She particularly likes applesauce.
Snacks: cheese, whole wheat crackers, milk (Morning) Apple slices, milk (afternoon).
Infant: It is important that you let the parent know how many ounces and how often baby ate. In addition, if the child ate cereal, fruit, meat or vegetable, when and how much.
OTHER: This is where you note any concerns, behavioral, contractual or information that needs to be discussed.
For example: It is necessary for you to submit your transportation permission form for your child to be able to go to the park. Please bring it tomorrow. If you have any questions or concerns, I will be available to talk to you on the phone tonight between 7:30 and 8:30.
WEEKLY
Communicating to the parent what your lesson plan is for the week enables the parent to continue learning at home.
For example: This week we are going to have a winter theme. We will be talking about animals that hibernate. Our activities will include: clothes your wear for winter, snow, animals, and make a bird feeder. We will be learning a finger play song. (send home with the parent a sheet with the words to the finger play song, so they may sing it with their child)
This lesson plan can be posted each week on a bulletin board located where parents can see it when dropping off or picking up their child. Another way to communicate your lesson plan is to send home with the child, every Friday, a notice with the next weeks plan.
SCHEDULED CONFERENCES
Providers should hold an annual, semi annual or even monthly conference with parents. This can be held during scheduled appointments usually on the phone. This is a time for you to inform the parent of their child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. Use these scheduled conferences to establish a trusting relationship, cooperation and consistency between the child’s home and childcare.
Providers have found a wonderful way to communicate with the parent’s is to hold an open house, where parent’s can come in to see their children’s art displayed and even a short program where the children perform a song or finger play.
As important as it is for the parent to have information from you, you also should need open communication with the parent to make sure you are aware of any changes in the child’s life.
For example: Family issues such as divorce, separation, or custody need to be communicated to you. You need to make sure the parent knows that without legal documentation, you cannot refuse to release child to either parent.
In case of emergency, it is vital that changes in contact information such as, address, phone number, workplace or work hours, or authorization for a person to pick up child needs to be kept up to date.
Communication of a serious or issue that may be upsetting to the parent should be discuss verbally. Examine your communication policies to be sure they are giving both you and the parent the proper information at the proper time.