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The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Child Care Aware do not endorse nor are we responsible for the information or materials posted on any of the resource’s websites.Fostering Relationships with Your Child Care Provider
October 28, 2008
Positive relationships between parents and child care providers are important for children. Consistency both in child care and at home plays a large part in healthy child development. By maintaining a positive, open, and responsive relationship with your child care provider, you will be able to offer your children this stability.
After selecting a child care provider it is important to make sure you understand each other. Below are some steps you can take to promote positive communication with your child care provider. These are also tips to help you work through any situations that may arise.
- Communicate Regularly
- Help your provider get to know your child and your family.
- Regularly share information about your child's general disposition that day or from the night before. Talk about anything going on that might impact your child's day at child care.
- Share any concerns you may have about your child. Always keep your provider up to date with health, developmental, or behavioral changes.
- When you pick up your child, review his/her day. If your child is old enough, include him or her in the conversation. What happened? Were there any concerns, etc? If needed, schedule a separate or private time to discuss these concerns.
- Stay Involved
- Offer to help with any special events that are planned: field trips, parties, holiday events.
- Take extra time when picking up or dropping off your child to play or read with the children. If your provider approves, spend your day off with the kids!
- Offer to bring treats or supplies for the home/center.
- Go to scheduled parent/provider meetings.
- Keep your emergency contact information up to date.
- Know Your Provider and the Program:
- Learn about your provider by asking questions. Know your provider as more than someone who "watches" your child. The deeper your professional relationship grows, the richer your child's experience will be.
- Remember special days - birthday, holidays, National Provider Appreciation Day (May 8, 2009), etc.
- Be aware of program policies and procedures.
- Follow program guidelines such as signing your child in and out daily.
- If there are problems communicating with your provider:
- Stay calm, professional, respectful, and rational. Keep the best interests of your child in mind.
- Ask questions before making assertions.
- Listen to your provider respectfully and with an open mind.
- Make problem solving a team effort.
- If the problems persist, find a neutral party to help facilitate the conversation.
- If there is ever a safety or health concern, take action immediately.
- If the issues cannot be resolved, and all efforts to communicate have failed, consider finding another provider.
For More Information
- NACCRRA's Is this the Right Place for My Child? 38 Indicators of High-Quality Child Care is a user friendly booklet that contains a checklist of 38 questions that parents can ask to evaluate the quality of child care programs. The booklet explains why each question is important and how it relates to the quality of care.
- Your Child Care Resource and Referral agency (CCR&R) has resources for parents about how to recognize high-quality child care. To find your local CCR&R, go to www.childcareaware.org or call Child Care Aware at 1-800-424-2246.
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