Once you’ve made that all-important decision on which preschool or primary school to enrol your child in, it’s time to invest in their school days! As your child begins school, fostering a strong relationship with their teachers is essential. What can we do, to boost the all-important parent-teacher communication?
We’ve got the experts from Garden International School (GIS)’s Primary School and Early Years Centre (EYC) to share some great advice for our #makchicmumsquad, so read on for their top tips!
The Parent-Teacher Relationship
- Maintain open communication with the school, especially during major life changes or challenges at home.
How do I do this?
Share relevant information about changes in the family, new people, or significant events, as it helps the school support the child better. Examples include news of a new baby, the loss of a family member, a separation within the family or a family member moving away. Teachers might then be able to also suggest books, activities or create social stories to support children through these tough changes.
- Embrace and contribute to a positive and inclusive school culture by participating in school events.
How do I do this?
Try to attend school meetings, workshops, soft starts and volunteer for events and trips; even being a friend to new families can help you understand school policies and values. For example, at GIS, parents will learn why positive language is so important in school and how the school supports children to resolve conflict using a restorative approach.
- Provide insights into your child’s preferences, learning styles, and important aspects of their life to enhance their educational experience.
How do I do this?
Share any health or medical needs, past experiences, and cultural aspects that can be incorporated into the classroom environment. Some schools like GIS will ask parents to complete a questionnaire before joining the school, and will talk to parents during the walk-through, once students have registered (and also again, once they settle in). It’s also good to let the school know if there are any customs, traditions or languages spoken at home which can be incorporated in a class environment.
Preparing for Your Parent-Teacher Meeting
- Approach parent-teacher meetings with curiosity and an open mind. Advocate for your child by sharing insights and concerns about their development.
How do I do this?
Prepare questions about your child’s social and emotional growth, focusing on interaction, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and peer relationships. Seek guidance on how to support your child’s emotional development at home, including mirroring school language and facilitating friendships. Trust the expertise of teachers in addressing your questions and concerns about your child’s development.
Here are some questions you could ask your child’s educators!
| How does my child interact with adults/peers? | Are they able to regulate their emotions on their own, or do they need support? | Is there any language that you use at school that we could mirror at home? |
| How do they approach conflict resolution? | Are they able to identify their emotions, name them and find strategies to self-regulate? | Does my child work well in a group or during collaborative play? |
At-Home Teaching Tips
- Can parents really help kids with at-home-learning? Yes! Parents are the first teachers or educators of their children.
A home is the child’s first classroom, where they unleash their curiosity to watch and understand, and it’s where independence and patience can be promoted by involving children in self-care tasks and teaching responsibility.
How do I do this?
- Limit screen time, engage in shared reading, and arrange social interactions like playdates to complement learning.
- Encourage imaginative play, turn-taking, and fine motor skills through games and activities like storytelling and arts and crafts.
- Provide a diverse sensory environment and prioritise outdoor activities (movement and action are so important!) to enrich learning experiences.
- Model language and problem-solving skills, encouraging safe risk-taking and resilience-building.
- Use resources like books, songs, and outdoor experiences to support holistic learning and development.
Back-to-School Preparations
- Discuss academic and personal goals (this can include lessons beyond the classroom) with the class teacher before or during the school year, focusing on areas like speech development and other individual needs.
How do I do this?
- Prioritise open communication with the teacher. As every child is different, let the conversations with the class teacher guide you on discussions about setting and achieving goals that align with the child’s unique needs and learning journey.
- Listen to teacher recommendations (and ask questions, if unsure). Focus on key areas with your child, such as language development, physical skills and social-emotional growth.
Nurturing Communication
- Parents can create many opportunities at home to enhance their child’s communication skills. Model positive communication by expressing empathy, using positive language, and demonstrating active listening skills with both adults and children.
How do I do this?
- Remove distractions like phones and laptops to focus fully on your child during conversations,
- Allow your child to lead conversations and prompt them with open-ended questions like “I wonder” to encourage meaningful dialogue.
- Teach your child not to interrupt, with gentle words like “my turn to talk, your turn to listen”.
- Encourage your child to repeat what was said to them in their own words.
- Be ready to listen to your child and be prepared for questions to come at any time (trust us, this usually happens at bedtime or when you are trying to leave the house!).
This is a sponsored post by Garden International School (GIS).
Choosing the right school for your child is a big decision, so take the opportunity to meet with GIS’s Heads of EYC and Primary and Secondary and hear firsthand about their approach to bringing out the best in every child – both academically and beyond. To all educators, here’s wishing you a very Happy Teacher’s Day in advance!
