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As a preschool teacher how do you deal with upset parents?
Aisha F. Age 19
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April’s Answer
You're absolutely on the right track! By focusing on listening to the parent and giving them your full attention, you're not only demonstrating your respect and empathy, but also ensuring they feel valued and heard. Keep up the fantastic work – your active listening skills can often make all the difference for parents, leading to healthier and happier relationships.
Updated
Lavender’s Answer
Hi Aisha, to address challenging situations with parents more effectively, please consider the following steps:
1. Maintain regular communication with parents throughout the year to avoid surprises. Update them on any issues and keep a record of all interactions to reference if needed.
2. Schedule face-to-face meetings with parents to discuss their concerns. During these meetings, display tangible evidence of their child's performance and documentation of prior conversations about the issue at hand.
Recommended Reading: Mastering the Parent-Teacher Meeting
3. Inform your principal or department chair about the situation, so they can provide support if needed.
4. Start the meeting by listening to the parents and asking for clarification when necessary. Avoid interrupting them.
5. Look for areas of agreement to demonstrate that you and the parents share a common goal of helping the student succeed.
6. Stand firm in your professional decisions and resist any pressure from parents to change grades or make exceptions for their child.
Recommended Reading: Positive Parent-Teacher Communication
7. Recognize when a conversation has reached its conclusion, especially if a parent is being abusive. In such cases, it's time to end the discussion, even if they take their complaint to the principal.
By honing your skills in addressing difficult situations with parents, you can maintain a calm and focused approach while seeking a resolution in the best interests of the students.
1. Maintain regular communication with parents throughout the year to avoid surprises. Update them on any issues and keep a record of all interactions to reference if needed.
2. Schedule face-to-face meetings with parents to discuss their concerns. During these meetings, display tangible evidence of their child's performance and documentation of prior conversations about the issue at hand.
Recommended Reading: Mastering the Parent-Teacher Meeting
3. Inform your principal or department chair about the situation, so they can provide support if needed.
4. Start the meeting by listening to the parents and asking for clarification when necessary. Avoid interrupting them.
5. Look for areas of agreement to demonstrate that you and the parents share a common goal of helping the student succeed.
6. Stand firm in your professional decisions and resist any pressure from parents to change grades or make exceptions for their child.
Recommended Reading: Positive Parent-Teacher Communication
7. Recognize when a conversation has reached its conclusion, especially if a parent is being abusive. In such cases, it's time to end the discussion, even if they take their complaint to the principal.
By honing your skills in addressing difficult situations with parents, you can maintain a calm and focused approach while seeking a resolution in the best interests of the students.