The benefits of building strong relationships with parents

In a September post on this blog, we discussed how to build a strong parent-teacher relationship. We emphasized the importance of engagement, communication and working together. Now we want to highlight the benefits of this strong relationship for children, parents and teachers.

Benefits for Children and Parents

Children benefit when their parents and teachers have good lines of communication. They feel comforted and more confident when they see that their parents and teachers are working together. A strong teacher-parent relationship is especially critical as young children start to become more independent.

Parents who have good relationships with teachers and caretakers are also in a better position to help their children. For instance, through introducing routines and modeling certain behavior at home, parents can create continuity between expectations at school and home, so children can be more successful.

Benefits for Teachers

Teachers who have strong relationships with parents often have greater insight into the child's life at home, which allows them to modify classroom learning to best help the student. For example, if the teacher is aware that the family has just had a baby, they can understand that the child may benefit from more attention from the adults at school. Spending more one-on-one time with the student during this phase can help them overcome challenges. 

To establish strong relationships with parents, it's important to reach out early and ask for their input. In addition, you should be proactive, establishing strong communication with parents before there is a problem.

If you are interested in learning more about this subject, visit ProSolutions Training's course menu. We also offer training for teachers seeking the CDA Credential, which is awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition. In 2013, we became the first online training company to earn the honor of being a formal partner of the Council.