Skip to content
Child Care Answers Logo
  • News & Stories
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Resource Center
    Featured Resource
    Choosing Care
    Learn more
    • All Resources
    • Family Help Guide
    • Child Care Program Help Guide
    • Employer Help Guide
    • Community Help Guide
  • Our Focus
    Featured Article
    Effects of Child Care on Businesses and the Economy
    Learn more
    • Families
    • Child Care Programs
    • Community Partners
    • Employers
    • Additional Reports and Data
  • Team
    • Our Expertise
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Careers
  • Get Involved
    • Partner with Us
    • Advocate
    • Volunteer
  • Find Child Care
  • Donate
  • Resource Center
    • All Resources
    • Family Help Guide
    • Child Care Program Help Guide
    • Employer Help Guide
    • Community Help Guide
  • Our Focus
    • Families
    • Child Care Programs
    • Community Partners
    • Employers
    • Additional Reports and Data
  • Team
    • Our Expertise
    • Our Staff
    • Our Board
    • Careers
  • Get Involved
    • Partner with Us
    • Advocate
    • Volunteer
  • Find Child Care
  • Donate
  • News & Stories
  • Events
  • Contact
arrow back All News & Stories
Families Family Engagement

Building a relationship with my child’s teacher

Kristin Kahl
February 14, 2018

by Kristin Kahl, Knowledge Manager

I’m one of the few staff here at Child Care Answers who doesn’t have Early Childhood Education experience. So why am I writing this blog? What I do have is this – experience in being a parent who is inexperienced. I needed every bit of help I could get. I learned some things the hard way. Hopefully, sharing some of my stories can help families who are also in the same boat.

When my first son Miles was born, I didn’t have a clue about what was supposed to happen in a child care setting.  Sure, I knew the basics. Caregivers shouldn’t lay babies down to sleep in cribs with blankets or pillows. I should not find a teacher in a room alone with 20 two-year olds. I shouldn’t walk away to hear adults screaming at the children (although my own kid screaming “Moooooooooooommmmmmmeeeeeeeeeee!!!” was going to happen sometimes).

Thankfully, none of the above happened the first day I dropped him off when he was three-months old. Nevertheless, I was uneasy to hand him over to Ms. Sandra (name changed to protect the innocent). In my previous visits, she had been quiet, making as little small talk as possible. Although she had a grandmotherly vibe, she didn’t give off the goo-goo ga-ga baby talk that Miles had seen from his relatives and gray-haired church ladies. How was his day going to go without the over-the-top songs and silliness he was used to? I was nervous about my about my day away from him, my first day back to work, and about my first day pumping as a nursing mom.

I was, however, fortunate to be able to go in to nurse Miles twice a week. The first time I came in, Ms. Sandra was just finishing up feeding another baby. Instead of the hustle and bustle of the morning drop-off, I caught a glimpse of her in a lovely quiet one-on-one moment, with just a hint of goo-goo and ga-ga. She looked up and offered me the rocker. At first, I froze, wanting to whisk Miles away to keep him to myself in a private room. I accepted, though, and I’m so glad I did.

That was the beginning of a long series of talks with Ms. Sandra – me at the rocker with Miles, her tending to the other babies, and us chatting about our days. I discovered she had quite the understated sense of humor with an amazing twinkle in her eye when she joked. I got to see firsthand as she changed a diaper on a wiggly worm like a champ or soothed a colicky baby after drop-off. She got to hear (whether or not she wanted to) about Miles’ crazy gas last night or his hilarious new trick. Eventually, the time came for me to wean Miles and for him to move to another room. Even so, I continued to visit at the same time to play and connect with him and his new teacher.

TIPS FOR CONNECTING WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER

How can you make the best of the time that you have to learn what in going on in your child’s classroom? Keep the following in mind.

  • Connect with the teacher in her “natural habitat.” If a teacher is covering for another teacher in a different classroom or is at a shift change, she won’t be giving you her best self. Set her up for that opportunity!
  • Try different options until you find what fits. Not everyone will have my same fortune to be able to visit twice per week during the day. Look at your own schedule and see what would work best to find time to regularly connect with your child’s teacher. If you can’t connect face-to-face, make sure that each of you have a way to ask questions and get answers. That could mean paper, text, app, phone, or some other way to communicate.
  • Keep the teacher’s needs in mind too. Remember that your teacher is caring for other children and cannot focus her attention solely on you and your child. If you notice you are being a distraction to her or the other children, wrap up your visit or conversation.
  • Don’t forget to keep your child at the center. As your child ages, what works one month may not work the next. For example, when my youngest son was going through separation anxiety, I couldn’t come in the middle of the day anymore. So,I built in extra time and stayed a little longer when I picked him up.
  • Be flexible! This is the most important! There are a lot of people and parts to this equation, but remember that you’re doing this for the best interest of your child. If you’re making things difficult for the teacher, child, or yourself, then find a better way to do it!
Related News & Stories

Find new ways to grow.

Program engagement specialist Michelle Terry discussing with a family child care home owner
Families

What to Look for in a Family Child Care Home

March 23, 2023
children gathered around camp counselors getting ready for tug of war
Families School Age

How to Find a Quality Summer Program

February 13, 2023
Sitou in African attire holding his parents' hands
Families Family Engagement Inclusion Providers

Culturally-Inclusive Conversations: “Ask Questions, and Be Curious.”

January 14, 2023
Newsletter

Early care and education news to your inbox

Count on our newsletters to get you the most important early care and education news, when you need it. We send a different newsletter each month to either families, child care professionals, or communities/employers. Sign up for one or all today!
CCA Logo White

Contact Us

info@childcareanswers.org
Phone: 317.636.5727 Toll Free: 800.272.2937
1776 N. Meridian St., Suite 101
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Our Partners

FSSA Logo

© 2023 Child Care Answers. All Rights Reserved.

Subscribe Privacy Policy
Twitter Logo
Facebook Logo
Instagram Logo
LinkedIn Logo
YouTube Logo
tiktok logo
Filter by Topic
Filter by Role
Filter by Resource Type
Post
What to Look for in a Family Child Care Home
Different families have different desires and needs for their child care programs. In Indiana, you can find safe, high-quality programs in homes, centers, schools, and faith-based early learning settings. Families may find personal pros and cons for each setting; however, understanding how to identify quality and knowing program safety requirements will help you make the […]
Program engagement specialist Michelle Terry discussing with a family child care home owner
Post
How to Find a Quality Summer Program
If you are looking for a sign to start your search for summer care, here it is! At Child Care Answers, we have been busy finding ways to support you. Last year, we shared four tips for finding a quality summer program, and they certainly still hold true. This year, we partnered with the Indiana […]
children gathered around camp counselors getting ready for tug of war
Post
Culturally-Inclusive Conversations: “Ask Questions, and Be Curious.”
The family is a child’s introduction to the world. A child’s identity is grounded by their culture and heritage. For families, there is pride and honor in sharing your culture with your child. As they step out of the home and into new environments, like child care, holding onto a family’s culture can become complicated. […]
Sitou in African attire holding his parents' hands