Building Positive Relationships Between Teachers and Educators
Building positive relationships with parents is an effective form of communication. "Working together
with families strengthens child(ren) social-emotional, cognitive, and physical developmental growth"
(Module: Getting Families Involved:, n.d.). When a child(ren) is introduced to a positive relationship at a
young age, they realize how important it is to have trusting relationships. This blog will provide
information on forming positive relationships and the importance of those relationships between
families and educators. Positive relationships should be consistent, serve a purpose, and be
reciprocated.
How To Form A Positive
Relationship Between Families and
Educators
Communication Communication is key to a successful relationship. Families want to be involved in their child's life. Communicating with families as much as possible provides them with a sense of importance because they have the opportunity to have input on their child(ren)s learning and developmental growth.
Communicate with the child(ren)s parents about the positive and the negatives of their child's day. Use the sandwich method (good, bad, good) to deliver the observation. Make sure you provide both positive and negative feedback. When only communicating the negative about the child(ren), the parent can take it offensively and break all communication forms. This will lead to not having any relationship with the family because they will avoid you at all costs.
Find the best way to communicate with families. It can be either through face-to-face interactions daily, sending notes home, emails, or phone calls. Find what works best between both parties.
Provide two-way communication between families and educators. It is essential to know what is going on at home and what is going on at school. Both parents and educators can use this information to provide the child's best care and developmental growth (ren). "Home-school notes are highly effective" (Ludvik, 2020).
Why is it Important to Establish
Positive Relationships with Families
Families and educators have their relationships, interactions, and knowledge about the child(ren). Families can share information with educators about crucial information that can help educators adjust when it comes to the child(ren)s learning and behaviors. This is important to the child(ren)s socioemotional growth, behaviors academic development.
Families can share information about how the child feels, if something happened at home and how the child learns outside a developmental environment. Child(ren) will have good days and bad days. Understanding events that occur before the child comes to school can be essential on how the child will be hat day, and the educator will have the knowledge of this information and adjust for the day.
Educators can provide details about how the child behaves or interacts in a group setting or by themselves. By providing these details, parents can understand how the child(ren) might behave when interacting at the park, playdates, or outings with other children. The parent can adjust and watch closely so they know what to do if situations may occur.
The child(ren) can be introduced to positive relationships at an early age, leading the child(ren) to create positive relationships independently throughout their lifetime, which can strengthen the child(ren)s social-emotional development.
Be A Role Model
By being a role model your children can look up to the adults who make a positive impact in their lives. When your child or children are in the classroom seeing you make healthier choices, they will follow you and do the same.
By making exercise a part of your daily routine by doing things such as going on family (bike rides, racing from the mailbox back to the house (if in a community where the mailbox is not in front the home), swimming, baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer, or yoga, etc.)
Activities to do all year long
Winter Activities for indoors and outdoors
Walk your local mall.
Take the stairs whenever possible instead of an elevator or escalator.
Walk around your building's hallways during your lunch or coffee break.
Don't wait for spring for a thorough house cleaning. Wash the inside of your windows, vacuum or shampoo the carpet or clean out your closets.
Watch and follow an exercise video.
Exercise indoors at a nearby gym.
Spring Activities
Go for a brisk walk during your lunch hour or after dinner.
Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator whenever possible.
Skip the drive-thru car wash and wash the car yourself.
Stretch your green thumb by doing some gardening. Consider growing your own fruit, vegetables, and herbs.
Walk in place while watching TV.
When possible, ride your bike to school or work — or use it to run errands.
Plan an active family vacation or a weekend outing.
Summer Activities for families
Sign your child up for local sports camp or swimming lessons.
Make going for a walk, run or bike ride together a scheduled event.
Go hiking and have the kids tell you 10 points of natural interest to enjoy.
Take up a new hobby together, such as inline skating, tennis, or hiking.
Run through the sprinkler when it's hot outside.
When it's raining, stay inside, turn on some music and have a dance party.
Set up neighborhood contests including jump rope, hula hoop or hopscotch.
Organize community kickball, soccer or softball games or relay races.
Host a community carwash on your street.
Autumn Activities
Get outside and enjoy autumn with a brisk run, a nature hike, or a game of football.
Eat a meal three to four hours before a workout and a small snack about an hour prior. This helps ensure the energy is in your muscles when you need it.
Eat meals with protein and carbohydrates: a lean deli meat sandwich, cereal with fruit and low-fat milk or pasta with meat sauce. For your pre-activity snack, eat something low-fat and low fiber, such as a cup of low-fat yogurt or a piece of fruit.