Among both parties, parents and educators alike, there are similar phenomena: suppression, reluctance to enter into conflicts, fear that a confrontation with the educator will harm the child, lack of confidence in the reaction of the educator or the parent, and more. These are only some of the reasons why parents and educators "guard their stomachs" and do not share their feelings with the other party.
In this article we will try to put a double mirror on both sides and give each side the tools to step into the shoes of the other side. In addition, we will add with great love some useful tips and ways to improve and become more efficient. After all, everything is important because we remember - the welfare of the chicks comes first!!!
Parents and educators
As a service provider and as an educator, it is the duty of kindergarteners, nannies, and staff members to encourage parents to speak, to give each parent the feeling that he is allowed to express his opinion and that he is entitled to a response (even if he does not always get consent...) and to find a way in which each parent can express his opinion even anonymously.
Feedback to parents is a wonderful way to implement everything we said. In the feedback form, the questions can direct the parents to talk about things that bother or intrigue the kindergarten teacher and the staff, the feedback form does not require the parent's name to be mentioned and it can be placed in the box at the entrance to the kindergarten. In this way, every parent will feel free to express their opinion, shed light, offer, request, criticize and more. The team, on the other hand, will be able to gain important insights through the comments and route it according to the opinion of the parents.
Attached herewith for your use is basic feedback to which you can add additional points and questions when necessary and at your discretion.
Feedback for parents:
name and last name:
*It is not your duty to fill in your name (unless you wish to do so.)
Dear parents - your opinion is important to us!!!
Attached are many questions, we would be happy for your response.
- How did you feel when you arrived at the garden in the morning? Do you feel that the staff turns to you and your child and pays him a lot of attention? Do you feel that there is someone who accepts you and helps you say goodbye to your child in a proper way?
- To what extent do you feel that the staff is attentive to requests and special needs? Were things you asked for in the past fulfilled to your satisfaction? If not, we would appreciate it if you could elaborate...
- To what extent do you feel that the staff shares with you everything that happens to your child personally during each day? Would you like more details? Or would you like a breakdown in exceptional cases only?
- Do you usually call the kindergarten during the day?
If so, how does the staff respond to calls and are they attentive to you?
- Do you feel that the kindergarten staff and its management share with you enough what is done in general in the kindergarten? If not, would you like more details? If so, in what way - multiple parent meetings? Handouts ?
personal conversations? Filmed video tapes?
- Do you feel that you have an influence on the learning content in kindergarten? Would you like to have an impact? Or do you trust the judgment of the kindergarten staff in educational matters?
- What do you think about the structure of the garden? On the garden yard? About the level of safety in the garden? About the design of the garden and its content? Are there things you would like us to change? We will be happy for full details.
Educators and parents
In the past, it seems, the educators won more respect from the parents and the chicks alike.
Nowadays, the boundaries have become blurred and parents, out of a strong desire to be friends with their children, often tend to cross the boundaries and do not notice how by doing so they weaken
the status of the educator.
There is nothing wrong with parental involvement and it can even be a blessing, but aggressive intervention or intrusion into the decisions of the educator may only be harmful for the parent, the child and the educator.
The meeting time of the parent and the educator is almost always done in the presence of the child and at times when both the parent and the educator are short on time, stressed and busy.
The educators and the parents must understand that the time of bringing the child to kindergarten and the time of taking him from kindergarten are excellent times for greetings, regular updates and urgent matters - but are not the ideal time for long conversations and special requests.
As a general rule, it is very important that all long conversations, including comments, clarifications and criticisms of any kind, not be done in the presence of the chicks and "above their heads". This kind of situation puts the chick in a difficult situation where he feels that he has to take a stand and a side, when both sides are dear to his heart and very beloved by him.
On the other hand, the day of the kindergartner, the nanny or the educator is packed to the point of exhaustion and the evening hours are mainly dedicated to her family members and herself - long and exhausting phone calls are surely the last thing she expects... so what to do, and how to communicate?
The solution lies in long-term planning in advance - while defining times and deadlines for everything and while clarifying the intentions of both parties at the very beginning - below I have collected advice and suggestions to prevent the "overflow of the pressure cooker".
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Kindergarten rules book for parents
Also at the first parents' meeting, the "kindergarten rules book" defining his rights will be distributed to the parents
and the obligations of each party. It is worthwhile and desirable to start an open conversation and slightly change the proposed laws according to the parents' requests and wishes.
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Setting an allotted time for personal inquiries
In a pleasant and polite way, the kindergarten staff will be able to convey the message to the parents: we too have personal lives and it will be difficult for us to respond to every request at any time, and on the other hand, a request made at the defined and agreed upon time will be answered kindly and courteously and with full listening.
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good communication
A little effort on the part of the staff on the subject of reporting, could do wonders and significantly reduce the number of referrals from parents to the staff outside of working hours.
The staff must be careful and report any unusual event and things that happened during the day,
The team would do well and will do if they add to the regular report also things on a personal level - after all, there is nothing that makes a parent happier than hearing about the exploits of his personal chick.
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Personal meetings and parent meetings
As difficult as it is from an organizational point of view, it is important that the staff and parents mobilize for the effort and hold meetings throughout the entire year. Personal meetings intended for "four-eyed" conversations about the individual chick and group meetings intended for conversation on general issues.
It is important to give parents a taste of more in every meeting and to forget about the "old and boring parents' meeting" format. Small treats for parents, an experiential or creative activity at the end of the regular conversation and any other creative idea will be welcomed by the parents and will make them come happily to any meeting that is invited.
