IEL Resources
- Tip Sheets:
- Podcast: Listening to Family Voices in Early Childhood Programs
Web Resources
-
20 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships With Parents
Source: Edutopia
This article provides twenty tips for improving connections with parents and families.
-
Discussing Difficult Issues
Source: West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
This short article provides several things to consider when discussing difficult issues with parents.
-
Family-Professional Partnerships
Source: Division for Early Childhood (DEC)
This professional development module provides videos and other training materials to promote trusting partnerships with families.
-
Having Difficult Conversations with Families: A Teacher’s Guide
Source: Understood
This article goes over effective strategies for teachers to connect with families including sharing specific concerns, building trust, and moving forward.
-
How to Communicate with Parents
Source: Zero to Three
This short article discusses three key steps to take after discussing difficult topics with parents.
-
New Teachers: How to Talk to Parents
Source: Edutopia
This article provides strategies for new teachers in their meetings and conversations with families including being proactive, asking parents for advice, and more.
-
Talk with Your Child’s Teacher
(also in Spanish)Source: Colorin Colorado
This offers questions and answers that can help you to get the most out of talking to your child’s teacher or with other school staff members.
-
Tips for Child Care Providers to Communicate with Parents Their Concerns about a Child’s Development
Source: Extension Alliance for Better Child Care
This article provides specific tips for communicating concerns with parents.
-
Tips for Talking with Parents
Source: Centers on Disease Control (CDC)
This short article provides a sample parent-teacher conversation and some tips for having difficult conversations with parents.
-
You Are Not Alone: For Parents When They Learn That Their Child Has a Disability
(also in Spanish)Source: Center for Parent Information and Resources
This article, written by a parent of a child with a disability, describes common reactions to learning that your child has a disability.