Tuesday, February 26, 2013
DO
Do check out a great website full of common sense ideas for parents--www.rosemond.com. This man, John Rosemond, is a family psychologist who has the best advice I've seen in a long, long time. He goes back to the good old fashion way of raising children. You've got to read his "Children's Rights" listed under "John's Bio". It's fantastic!!!! Every parent with young children absolutely needs to read this list. Try it--you'll like it!!!
DON'T
Parents--please don't talk on your phone as you're dropping off your children in the morning. All your attention needs to be 100% on that child. Unless you are a doctor and you have a major medical emergency, I cannot imagine any conversation being more important then your precious one. You're probably not going to be seeing your little one for the next 8 to 10 hours, so put that phone down! Better yet--leave it in the car so you won't be tempted to answer it if it rings. This is the time to focus totally on your preschooler.
It's also the time to connect with the teacher. It allows you to keep them up-to-date with things that are going on with your child--and vice versa. Maybe Susie is a little grumpy today (not enough sleep); or Johnny's pet is sick; or maybe Billy just has a fun story he wants to share with his teacher. These are things we want to know about.
The same goes with the afternoon pick-up time. Stay off the phone! Make sure"your face lights up" when you see that baby after a long day. They deserve nothing less from their mom or dad. Once again this is another opportunity to visit with the teacher. You'll be able to find out exactly how Susie's day was--not just read about it in her daily sheet. As a teacher I love to talk with the parents at the end of the day. It's such a great way to get to know the family better and for them to know you as well.
OBTW--this goes for parents who are picking up their kids in grades K-12. I can't tell you how many times I see parents yapping on their phone while their children are getting in the car after a long day at school. And worse, they continue to talk as they drive away--barely acknowledging their child. What a great opportunity to talk with these children at the end of the day--especially with teenagers. There's something about talking to kids while sitting next to them in a car without looking directly at them that seems to open them up. They might tell you about an issue they need advice with or share something fun about their day. Do you really want to pass that up for an unimportant conversation? I hope not.
It's also the time to connect with the teacher. It allows you to keep them up-to-date with things that are going on with your child--and vice versa. Maybe Susie is a little grumpy today (not enough sleep); or Johnny's pet is sick; or maybe Billy just has a fun story he wants to share with his teacher. These are things we want to know about.
The same goes with the afternoon pick-up time. Stay off the phone! Make sure"your face lights up" when you see that baby after a long day. They deserve nothing less from their mom or dad. Once again this is another opportunity to visit with the teacher. You'll be able to find out exactly how Susie's day was--not just read about it in her daily sheet. As a teacher I love to talk with the parents at the end of the day. It's such a great way to get to know the family better and for them to know you as well.
OBTW--this goes for parents who are picking up their kids in grades K-12. I can't tell you how many times I see parents yapping on their phone while their children are getting in the car after a long day at school. And worse, they continue to talk as they drive away--barely acknowledging their child. What a great opportunity to talk with these children at the end of the day--especially with teenagers. There's something about talking to kids while sitting next to them in a car without looking directly at them that seems to open them up. They might tell you about an issue they need advice with or share something fun about their day. Do you really want to pass that up for an unimportant conversation? I hope not.
Monday, February 11, 2013
DO
I wanted to remind teachers to please take the time to greet each and every child as they walk in your classroom. If you are sitting down--stand up and walk over to the him/her. I do not bother to sit down in the morning as the children are slowly coming in. If you're talking to another teacher--STOP--and acknowledge each child. I make it a point to touch the child in some way-- I pat them on the back, touch their hair or give them a "side" hug and call them by name.
I remember seeing Toni Morrison in an interview a while back and she talked about how she realized that her face should light up every time her son walked into a room. I realized that MY face should light up each time one of my preschoolers walks in my classroom. And it doesn't matter if it's the best behaved one in my class or the child that gives me the most problems--I greet ALL of them like I'm thrilled to have them there that day.
And remember--parents notice how you greet and react to their children. They can see that you genuinely care about them. This is so important--not only does it make each child feel special and glad to be at school--but it makes it easier to talk with the parents if an issue were to come up with their little one.
Teachers, think about how you would want your own child greeted if you were dropping them off at daycare. More important--how would YOU want to be welcomed if you were just a little girl/boy who really didn't have a choice about being at daycare. Even as adults we like for people to be glad to see us--our spouse, our friends--even the waiter at the restaurant or the salesman at the store. So please make an extra effort to welcome each child as soon as they walk into your classroom. You'll be surprised at what a difference you'll see in the children and also in how their parents react to you.
I remember seeing Toni Morrison in an interview a while back and she talked about how she realized that her face should light up every time her son walked into a room. I realized that MY face should light up each time one of my preschoolers walks in my classroom. And it doesn't matter if it's the best behaved one in my class or the child that gives me the most problems--I greet ALL of them like I'm thrilled to have them there that day.
And remember--parents notice how you greet and react to their children. They can see that you genuinely care about them. This is so important--not only does it make each child feel special and glad to be at school--but it makes it easier to talk with the parents if an issue were to come up with their little one.
Teachers, think about how you would want your own child greeted if you were dropping them off at daycare. More important--how would YOU want to be welcomed if you were just a little girl/boy who really didn't have a choice about being at daycare. Even as adults we like for people to be glad to see us--our spouse, our friends--even the waiter at the restaurant or the salesman at the store. So please make an extra effort to welcome each child as soon as they walk into your classroom. You'll be surprised at what a difference you'll see in the children and also in how their parents react to you.
Friday, February 1, 2013
DO
Please know that we (teachers) really do want your child to be happy at his/her daycare. That is our #1 priority. It serves no purpose for us to make you or your child's daily life miserable (guess what? It makes our day miserable as well). If your child is happy--we're happy. So if you or your child are not happy, then we ALL need to work on it together. We really are there to work WITH you and not against you. There are times when we feel that parents are fighting us the whole time instead of trying to work with us to solve any problems. I promise you that we really do have your child's best interest at heart. Most of us have done this for many years, so we have a pretty good idea how to deal with most problems (not all--mind you). If you will trust us and our years of experience we can work with you on most problems.
Just remember that your child is not the only one in our care, so we cannot always accommodate all your wants and needs. We have other parents who also have their own demands for their children. If we have 15 children in a class, then we may have as many as 30 parents we have to make happy. So please be understanding of our situation. We really are trying to do the best we can.
If your child remains in the same daycare for several years it makes your life so much easier and pleasant if you work with the staff--not against them. Most teachers I know will bend over backwards to work with you. If you treat them with kindness and respect, I promise you that they will return the favor. And really--that's all any of us really wants--kindness and respect.
Just remember that your child is not the only one in our care, so we cannot always accommodate all your wants and needs. We have other parents who also have their own demands for their children. If we have 15 children in a class, then we may have as many as 30 parents we have to make happy. So please be understanding of our situation. We really are trying to do the best we can.
If your child remains in the same daycare for several years it makes your life so much easier and pleasant if you work with the staff--not against them. Most teachers I know will bend over backwards to work with you. If you treat them with kindness and respect, I promise you that they will return the favor. And really--that's all any of us really wants--kindness and respect.
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