PARENT INVOLVEMENT - COMMUNICATION
Communication between the staff and parents is vital if we are to create a smooth flowing community. Not only should parents know how their child's day went, but they should also be informed of anything that affects the overall community or things that happened during the day that their child may ask about. Parents communicating with other parents is also a very effective means of creating a community atmosphere.
To facilitate communication with parents and between parents, we provide:
- individual family mailboxes
- personal staff communication at pick-up time
- written "My Day" forms
- annual parent conferences
- password protected pictures on the WEB site
- phone calls
We try to personally talk to each parent when they pick up their toddler or preschooler, but we also have individual mailboxes to help disseminate information. Mailboxes are used for memos with reminders of upcoming events or announcements of interest to parents, and for the daily "My Day" form. Parents might also find a Supply Request form in their mailbox if their child needs more pull-ups or other supplies. Parents often use the mailboxes to distribute invitations to a birthday party or to communicate with another parent about an upcoming play date.
The "My Day" forms were created to help parents know how their child's day went. These forms are not a check-off list but a narrative of what the child did that day. The "My Day" forms are written during the children's nap time. If we are especially busy tending to the needs of the children on a particular day, we may not be able to work on the forms, but most days the forms are completed.
To further communicate with the parents about their child, an annual parent conference is provided where we discuss the individual child's general development level and interactions as observed while they are at school.
To give visual communication to the parents about their child's time with us, we have a password protected area with current pictures of the children engaged in their daily activities. Parents can give the password to grandparents or other family members who may not live in the area so they can view the pictures and feel closer to what the child is doing each day.
Personal phone calls from parents are always welcome. We will use a phone call to a parent when that type of contact seems to be the best way to communicate.