Building positive relationships with parents is essential as a teacher. If you have good relationships with parents/ carers at your school, difficult conversations will be easier to approach, as will general communications. It is really important that parents feel their child’s teacher is someone who wants to help and support them.
Here are our top tips for helping teachers to develop positive relationships with parents.
Positive attitude
You’d be surprised what difference starting conversations with a smile can do. For a lot of parents, interactions with teachers are fleeting or during parents’ evenings, and so it is really important to be as positive as possible in how we set the scene for the conversation to follow.
It’s all in a name
We know how difficult it can be to keep track of names and faces but making the extra effort to remember parents’ names and how they like to be addressed can really encourage a positive relationship between parents and teachers.
Remember the importance of language
Our words are powerful. Our language is often influenced by our own thoughts and beliefs and so it is important to be aware of our own attitudes, feelings and assumptions when developing relationships with parents. By keeping assumptions at bay, you can choose to use language that will enable your message to be clear, friendly and understood.
Actively listen
Very rarely is there anyone who knows a child more than their parents. Building a positive rapport with parents starts with showing them that you value what they have to say and listen to their thoughts and feelings. By recognising and valuing parents as experts of their child you are able to develop positive relationships with them. Invite parents to share their thoughts with you and listen to what they are saying before responding.
Show an interest
One of the simplest ways to build a friendly and trusting relationship with parents/ carers is to show a genuine interest in their child. By sharing observations, thoughts and feelings about their child with them, they will feel you are as invested in their happiness and progress as much as they are.
This doesn’t have to just be based on academic success or development. Comment on their relationships, likes and successes. Show the parents you know who their child is.
Difficult discussions
There will be moments when you have to have difficult conversations with parents, or where you need to raise concerns. This can feel daunting, but if you have worked on having a positive relationship with them beforehand, these difficult conversations can be made much easier.
Should concerns need to be raised with parents, some practitioners may feel daunted, unsure of how best to approach this or not have had experience of raising concerns previously and may need support.
Additionally you may find this resource by Anna Freud useful:
Sharing concerns about a child with parents and carers - A guide for early years professionals by Anna Freud, National Centre for Children and Families
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