Module Objectives
In this module, you will:
- Explore how to keep in touch with families
- Brainstorm ways to communicate with families who have infants that foster engagement and build partnership
- Analyze negotiating with families
- Identify strategies to communicate with families
Assignment #1: Readings & Watchings
- Read Zero to Three (2022)
- Read Keyser (2017)
- Watch TAPS: Partnership with Families Part 4 (2012)
Link to Zero to Three (2022) How to Communicate with Families https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/how-to-communicate-with-parents/
Link to Keyser (2017)
Watch video TAPS: Partnership with Families Part 4 (2012)
OPTIONAL: Complete this handout as you read and watch.
Activity #3: Effective Practices for Working with Families who have Infants
What are the effective practices for working with families who have infants from the reading and video in this module? Identify your source (reading or video) as you develop a list of practices. Your reading may have described families of older children; how can you apply the information to families who have infants? Post your list in the comments below.
21 thoughts on “Communicating with Families”
Key Practices for Working with Families of Infants
Build trust – Be respectful, reliable, and listen.
Involve families – Support their role and choices.
Support development – Encourage bonding, routines, and play.
Communicate clearly – Be simple, kind, and culturally aware.
Promote well-being – Recognize stress, offer help.
Work as a team – Connect with services and professionals.
Respect culture – Ask, don’t assume.
Focus on strengths – Encourage and empower.
Evelin — Thanks for your post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices for working with families who have infants:
— build trust
— involve families
— communicate clearly
— promote well-being
— work as a time
–respect culture
— focus on strengths
What sources did you use to locate the effective practices? I wonder, did the readings & videos mention other effective practices for working with families who have infants? Thanks!
Activity #3: Effective Practices for Working with Families who Have Infants
From the reading “From Parents to Partners” by Janis Keyser and the article “Communicating with Parents: 3 Key Steps,” I learned how important it is to build strong relationships with families—especially when caring for infants. One of the most effective practices is having regular, open communication. Even a quick check-in at drop-off or pickup helps parents feel involved and reassured that their baby is being well cared for. With infants, who can’t talk about their day, it’s especially important that we speak for them—sharing small updates like how they slept, ate, or reacted to songs or tummy time.
Another takeaway was how important it is to manage our own emotions when challenges come up, like late pickups or tough conversations. Approaching parents with understanding instead of blame helps keep the relationship positive and focused on what’s best for the child.
I also learned that looking at things from the infant’s point of view can help us support both the child and the parent. For example, a baby crying at pickup isn’t a sign that the parent did something wrong—it’s just a natural reaction to transitions.
Overall, the key message I took from both sources is that caregivers and parents should work as a team. Building trust, sharing information, and supporting each other helps create a consistent and loving environment for the baby, both at home and in care.
Evelin — — Thanks for your post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices for working with families who have infants:
— building strong relationships
— having regular open communication, such as daily check-ins
— managing our emotions
—- approaching families with understanding
— looking from an infant’s perspective
— team with families
You listed the sources you used to locate the effective practices. I wonder, did the readings & videos mention other effective practices for working with families who have infants? Thanks!
When difficult situations may arise, 3 key steps in communicating with parents include…
(1) Noticing your own feelings to ensure you are coming from a problem solving point of view, not one of judgement or blame placing,
(2) Look at the interaction between the child’s point of view, reframe the conversation about the child’s behavior, not the parent’s.
(3) Partner with Parents by using “I” statements, asking for the parents’ perspective, compromising and checking in
(How to Communicate with Parents, ZeroToThree)
Learn your parent’s schedules to learn what times of the day are best do daily check ins (Daily Communication, Keyser)
The information you share with a parent at pick up will vary based on school policies and the type of things that parents may ask about. Some parents like to hear about how their children ate and slept while other parents are more interested in any new behavior or social interactions the child had that day (Daily Communication, Keyser)
Not all family communication has to be oral, it could be written or electronic (Daily Communication, Keyser)
Having a cubby or family pictures up in the classroom as well as allowing parents to visit their child throughout the day can help parents feel more accepted (TAPS Part 4)
While watching some of the Vignettes in this video, I almost couldn’t tell who was the parent and how was the teacher because it was such open, honest and receptive form of communication and working together (TAPS Part 4)
Sandra — Thanks for your post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices for working with families who have infants:
— notice your own feelings
–look at interactions from the child’s and/or family’s point of view
–using I statement
— compromising
— ask family’s for the best time to do check-ins
–maintain daily communication — oral, written or electronic
— allow families to come throughout the day
–Have cubby or family pictures up
What sources did you use to locate the effective practices? I wonder, did the readings & videos mention other effective practices for working with families who have infants? Thanks!
what I learned from the article “How to Communicate with Parents”. Able to develop positive relationships with parents and provide the best care for the child.
In the article express 3 different types to communicate with the parents. The first step, always notice how you feeling. Secondly, Paying attention to a children of point of view. Final step, the educator or caregiver Partners with parents.
I would able to have communicate with the families, building a relationship with child and families. Creating a space that the child feel safe environment.
Carline — Thanks for your post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices for working with families who have infants:
— develop positive relationships with families
— notice how you are feeling
— pay attention to the child’s point of view
— partner with families
— communicate with families
— build a relationships with families
You listed the sources you used to locate the effective practices. I wonder, did the readings & videos mention other effective practices for working with families who have infants? Thanks!
Some good ways to work with families who have infants come from the reading Communicating with Parents.
1.First, notice your own feelings so you don’t let frustration get in the way of how you talk to parents.
2.Try to see things from the baby’s point of view and explain behaviors to parents without making them feel bad.
3.Keep checking in to see how things are going and make changes if needed.
Even if the information is about older kids, they work for infants too because it’s about supporting routines, and helping parents feel confident.
Angelica — Thanks for your post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices for working with families who have infants:
— notice your feelings
–take the baby’s point of view
— check in with families to see how things are going
You identified the sources you used to locate the effective practices? I wonder, did the readings & videos mention other effective practices for working with families who have infants? Thanks!
-Tuning into your feelings. Making sure your feelings don’t interfere with building strong positive relationships with parents – How to communicate with Parents
-Partner with parents by planing together with them on how to address certain issues that arise. -How to communicate with parents.
-Daily check-ins with parents is also affective by talking to families you are both staying on top of the child’s development, needs, and progress. -Daily communication.
-Communicate through other methods. When there are parents we can’t have daily check ins with we can provide information via phone, emails, texts or written notes. -Daily Communication.
-Assuring parents they can call or text if they have any questions or just want to ask how the child’s day is going. -TAPS
-Sharing the physical space by inviting parents to stay or come to events where they can see and learn the things the children do and learn-TAPS
Joselin — Thanks for your post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices for working with families who have infants:
— tune into your feelings
–plan with families how to address issues that arise
— communicate with families daily in-person, written, phone, or electronic
— assure families they can contact you if they have questions of ask how the child is
— invite families to stay or come to events in the classroom
You listed the sources you used to locate the effective practices. I wonder, did the readings & videos mention other effective practices for working with families who have infants? Thanks!
Communicate- Build trust, Relationship with the children and parents
Support- Share information, Curriculum, Photograph
Engagement- Invite parents into the Daycare, develop plans for the children.
Gabrielle — Thanks for your post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices for working with families who have infants:
— communicate with families
— build trust with families
— build relationships with families
— support families
— share information with families
— engage families
— invite families into the program
— develop plans for the children with families
What sources did you use to locate the effective practices? I wonder, did the readings & videos mention other effective practices for working with families who have infants? Thanks!
Effective practices for working with families who have infants include:
– Building strong, respectful partnerships with families by listening without judgment, acknowledging their expertise, and involving them in decisions. This is especially important for families with infants who may be navigating new parenting roles. (TAPS: Partnership with Families Part 4, 2012)
– Being culturally and individually responsive. Families bring diverse backgrounds, values, and parenting styles. Practitioners should ask open-ended questions and adapt their approach to match each family’s needs and preferences. (Keyser, 2017)
– Providing emotional support and encouragement. Families of infants often need reassurance and validation, especially if they are new parents or facing challenges. Showing empathy and offering consistent support builds trust. (Zero to Three, 2022)
– Sharing observations and developmental information in family-friendly ways. Instead of using technical terms, professionals can describe what they see in everyday language and connect it to the infant’s growth. This helps families feel more confident and informed. (Keyser, 2017)
– Encouraging responsive caregiving and bonding. Professionals can model and support interactions like talking, singing, and responding to infants’ cues, which promote secure attachment and development. (Zero to Three, 2022)
Sadity — — Thanks for sharing your Week 4 Seminar Effective Practices post. You identified the following effective practices for working with families who have infants:
— listen to families without judgement
— acknowledge family’s expertise
— involving families in decisions
–build strong respectful partnerships with families
— be respectful to family’s cultures, diversity, values, backgrounds, & parenting styles
– provide emotional support & encouragement to families
– show empathy
– support bonds between families & their child
— share observations & info
—
You identified the sources you used to identify the effective practices. I wonder, did the readings & watchings mention any other effective practices working with families who have infants?
Based on the first reading (zero to three), some effective practices for working with families who have infants are developing positive relationships with the child’s parents, communicate with parents, and partnering with parents. Based on the second reading (keyser 2017), some effective practices for working with families who have infants is communication. By communication, I mean like sharing daily notes and announcements, sharing information about the day, and sharing child development information. As well during morning drops offs and pick ups, teachers can engage their talking about how their child was after they got picked up from school and how they were early morning before getting dropped off.
Stephanie — Thanks for your effective practices post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices:
— developing positive relationships with families
— communicating with families
— partnering with families
— sharing daily notes & announcements with families
— sharing info with families about the day
— sharing child child development info with families
— talking with families during drop-off & pick-up time
— talking to families
You identified the sources you used to find the practices. Did the readings & watchings from this module mention any other effective practices for working with families?
Some effectives practices for working with families who have infants
– Build trusting and respectful relationships with families
-Communicate daily about the infant’s routines and needs
-Listen to families concerns, goals, and preferences
-Show respect for family culture, values, and caregiving practices
-Provide comfort and consistency for both the infant and the family
-Create a welcoming environment that supports family involvement
-Encourage family participation in routines and decision making
-share child development information in simple, clear language
-Offer support and resources when needed
-Partner with families to create a strong home-school connection
Maria — Thanks for your effective practices post in Seminar Module 4. You identified the following effective practices:
— building trusting & respectful relationships with families
— communicate daily with families
— listen to families goals, concerns & preferences
— respect family’s culture, values, & caregiving practices
–provide comfort & consistency to families & babies
— create a welcoming environment
— support family involvement
–encourage family participation in routines & decision making
— share child development info in simple, clear language
partner with families
offer support & resources to families
You identified the sources you used to find the practices. Did the readings & watchings from this module mention any other effective practices for working with families?
– Use clear, respectful, and culturally sensitive language when communicating with families (Zero to Three, 2022 Keyser, 2017).
– Maintain regular and open communication through multiple ways (verbal, written, digital) to ensure families are well-informed (Zero to Three, 2022 Keyser, 2017).
– Listen actively and respond empathetically to family concerns or questions (Zero to Three, 2022 Keyser, 2017).
– Share positive observations about the child’s development and progress (Zero to Three, 2022).
– Address conflicts or concerns promptly and respectfully (Zero to Three, 2022).
– Use visual aids, interpreters, or other tools for accessibility to diverse families (Zero to Three, 2022).