Your Toddler’s Teacher – Tips on How to Interact

A call from your child’s daycare  teacher informing you that she wants to discuss your child with you often results in panic – you presume that something is wrong and that is never a good thing. There probably is a specific issue regarding your child that she wants to talk to you about, but there is no need to panic or become defensive. It is very rare to find a child who is perfectly happy and well behaved in childcare – children will always be children. All children face obstacles outside the home, even toddlers. In many cases, they are able to find their own way to deal with these situations, but at times they need support and guidance from the parents. When your child’s teacher calls you and says she wants to talk to you about your child, look at it as an opportunity to get ahead of a problem and make life happier for your toddler. Your positive attitude will go a long way in ensuring that the meeting with the teacher is a positive one.

Talking to the Teacher

• If you get a call from the teacher but are unable to  talk, explain your situation and ask her for a convenient time to call her back. Ensure you call back as scheduled.

• When you do talk to the teacher, keep an open mind and do not become defensive. Your child may be behaving in a way that you do not see at home. 

• If you feel that the teacher is wrong in what she says, do not interrupt. Let her finish speaking before you express your point of view.

• No one knowns your child as well as you do. This is when you can share your ideas and express your concerns. Use the conversation as a platform for creating a positive dialog with the teacher.

• Take notes of what is discussed,have a record of the decisions taken and the follow up to be done by both you and the teacher.

• If you are not sure about how to respond to what the teacher says, conveythat you understand what she is saying and that you would like a little time to find a solution to the issue. Set up a mutually convenient time to talk or meet and stick to it. When you do talk or meet, be sure of what you want to say, but do not be dogmatic and unwilling to accept another point of view.

• If you cannot resolve the problem by talking to the teacher, set up a meeting with the head of the daycare to discuss your concerns.

You may feel that the teacher is being too harsh or treating your child unfairly. This does happen buttry looking at the problem from her point of view. How well would you be able to cope with caring for 30 plus young children at the same time? Being open, clear and polite in your dealings will give the teacher a good impression of you and this will carry over to her opinion of your child. No child is perfect and if the teacher brings some behavioral issue to your notice, it is a chance for you to nip the problem in the bud. However, if you feel that the teacher or the daycare is not treating your child fairly and complaints to the management do not improve the situation, consider moving her to another daycare. Using an online resource to find and connect with daycares near you will make the process quick and easy.