Research shows that playful learning experiences lay the foundation for brain development and cultivate essential…
Tips for Talking to Your Child’s Preschool Teacher
So you’ve enrolled your child in preschool. Things have been going well, you think. But children can be tough to understand sometimes! That’s why your child’s preschool teacher is there to help. But how can you best communicate with them? Here are a few tips to help you do just that.
Schedule a Time to Talk
Your child’s preschool teacher will likely be excited to talk to you, but there are appropriate times to do so. For example, talking to your child’s teacher at drop-off or pick-up time probably isn’t the best idea. Unless there’s an urgent issue the two of you need to discuss, it’s best ot leave these conversations for pre-scheduled parent-teacher conferences.
Ask the Right Questions
It’s easy to want to know everything about your child’s preschool experience. Unfortunately, there might not be time for all of that! So if you want the conversation to flow smoothly, it’s important to ask the right questions. Some good questions to ask include:
- What is my child’s behavior like in a typical day?
- How do you deal with children who throw temper tantrums?
- What skillset does my child need to work on at home?
In short, your questions need to be tailored to the information you need the most.
Work Together to Develop Solutions
If you or your child’s teacher have a particular concern, it’s important to work towards a solution together. Considering that roughly 86% of children enrolled in preschool are five years old, it’s understandable that there may be some skills that need sharpening up. Collaboration will allow both you and your child’s teacher to work at home and at school towards that perfect solution.
Be Prepared for Honesty
One of the benefits of preschool is that your child will learn important social skills that will carry them throughout life. Unfortunately, there might be some mishaps along the way. So expect a bit of brutal honesty from your child’s teacher! Your child might be mean to others or have a slip up once in a while. As a parent, it’s important for you to listen and develop a solution with your child’s teacher.
Communicating with your child’s teacher is an important way to gauge their progress in kindergarten and beyond. Learning these communication skills while your child is still in a preprimary program could help you during their later schooling years, as well.