Their child.
And I think we should never forget how much that means.
Through my years of working with children and families, I’ve learnt that trust is something
we build through everyday moments, not just through qualifications or professional
experience.
Of course, knowledge and experience matter. But so does the way we listen, the way we
communicate and the way we make families feel.
For me, when parents and teachers trust each other, they can work together to help a child
feel safe, understood and supported.
And isn’t that what we all want?
It starts with listening
When I meet a parent for the first time, I want them to feel that we are here for the same
reason: their child.
I think it’s important to make time for that first conversation, to welcome questions and to let parents share whatever they feel is important.
What does their child enjoy? What makes them happy? Is there anything they find difficult?
What helps them feel comfortable in a new situation?
We don’t always need to ask lots of questions at once. Sometimes, simply giving someone
time to talk is the best place to begin.
I always appreciate hearing about a child from the people who know them best.
Their parents.
Sometimes, parents share something they think is only a tiny detail.
But that little detail might be exactly what helps me understand their child better.
And something that seems small to an adult can be very important to a child.
That’s why I believe we should never dismiss a parent’s concerns or observations, however
small they may seem.
I am always learning something by listening to parents, especially when I’m getting to know
a child for the first time.
And that knowledge helps us begin in a way that feels right for the child.
Sharing the lovely things — and the difficult things too
Of course, it’s wonderful to tell parents about the good moments.
Perhaps their child has tried something new, shown kindness to another child or finally
managed something they’ve been working towards.
I love sharing those little achievements.
But building trust also means being able to talk about things that aren’t going quite so well.
And that needs to work both ways.
A parent might notice something at home that their child’s teacher hasn’t seen. Or a teacher
might notice something during a lesson that the parent hasn’t experienced at home.
We see children in different situations, and each of us may notice something useful.
When we share what we know, we have a better chance of understanding what the child
needs.
I think this is one of the most important parts of working together.
We don’t have to pretend that everything is always perfect.
We just need to feel comfortable enough to talk about it.
Being honest, but always gentle
I know from my experience as a teacher that sometimes we need to have conversations that
aren’t easy.
Perhaps a child is struggling with something, or we’ve noticed a difficulty that we feel is
important to share.
And I know from being a mother that hearing somebody talk about your own child can feel
very different from discussing things professionally.
Even when someone is trying to help, the words they choose can make a real difference.
That’s why I believe honesty and kindness need to go together.
We can share a concern gently, explain what we’ve noticed and listen to what the parent has
experienced.
Sometimes, even beginning with a simple question can open a conversation:
“Have you noticed anything similar at home?”
For me, it’s important that parents feel comfortable having these conversations. We might be sharing something that isn’t easy to hear, but when we speak openly and listen to each
other, we can begin to understand what might help their child.
I’ve had difficult conversations over the years, of course. They are part of working with
children and families.
But I believe that when we approach each other with respect and understanding, even a
difficult conversation can become an opportunity to work together.
Celebrating the little steps
I believe it’s just as important to share the small successes as it is to talk about challenges.
Sometimes, a child’s achievement might seem tiny to someone looking from the outside.
Perhaps they’ve joined an activity they were previously unsure about. Maybe they’ve tried
something independently for the first time, or found the confidence to ask for help.
But for that child, it might be a very big step.
And I think those moments deserve to be noticed.
Over the years, I’ve had so many lovely moments sharing children’s achievements with their
parents. Seeing how pleased they are always means a great deal to me.
It gives me encouragement too. It reminds me why I love working with children and gives me
fresh energy to carry on.
Sometimes, families continue celebrating those little achievements at home, helping their
child feel proud all over again.
I think those moments are important because they help children build confidence.
One small step can lead to another.
And another.
And when parents and teachers notice and celebrate that progress together, the child
receives encouragement from both sides.
We won’t always see everything in the same way
Parents and teachers bring different experiences to a conversation.
Parents know their child through family life, their history, their feelings and all the little things
that happen at home.
Teachers may see the child in a different environment, with different activities, expectations
and relationships.
And sometimes, we may understand a situation differently.
I don’t think that has to be a problem.
What matters is that we’re willing to listen to each other, ask questions and remain open to
another point of view.
We might not always find an answer straight away.
But when we keep the child’s wellbeing at the centre of the conversation, we can continue
looking for a way forward together.
Trust grows through the little things
I feel fortunate to have built many positive relationships with parents throughout my work
with children.
And I think those relationships make such a difference.
Trust doesn’t usually appear after one conversation.
It grows when we listen carefully, when we follow through on what we’ve said, when we
share a little achievement and when we handle a difficult moment with kindness.
It grows when parents feel they can ask a question without worrying that it might seem
unimportant.
And when teachers take the time to listen, even when the day is busy.
Because sometimes, the smallest piece of information can help us understand something
important about a child.
We’re on the same side
If there is one thing I’d like parents to remember, it’s that they should feel comfortable talking openly with the people who teach and care for their children.
Ask questions.
Share the little things that make your child smile.
Tell us what helps when they’re having a difficult day.
And if something is worrying you, please don’t feel that it isn’t important enough to mention.
What may seem like a little thing to us can mean a great deal to a child.
We might not always have an immediate answer, but we can listen, think and work together.
Because for me, building trust isn’t about always agreeing or always getting everything right.
It’s about knowing that we’re on the same side, working together for the child.
Isn’t it wonderful what we can achieve when we listen to each other and work
together?
Eva 🌸
Tiny Smiles Club