Building Positive Relationships with Parents

Building Positive Relationships with Parents

As a new teacher, one of the things I found challenging was forming those key relationships with parents. Fresh out of university at 21 and leading my own class, I felt like I shouldn’t be offering advice and guidance to parents when they had older children who were a similar age to me. Even though it can be daunting, these relationships are one of the most important things to build as having consistency and shared expectations can really support children develop and grow.  

Making the effort to get to know your parents is vital. Talking to parent’s shouldn’t always be about the worries and concerns. Children are always keen to share their day with their families and that small contribution from you to show off how well they are doing or that they have nailed something they have been working on will really boost the confidence and self-esteem of the pupils. It will also help parents see that not all interactions between teachers and parents have negative connotations. 

Parents themselves may not have had a positive experience with school and it is important to remember that children are not only bringing their experience and attitudes to the class but that of their parents too. This is why it is important to work alongside parents to create a message that is consistent across home and school. Taking the time to make the relationship with the parent can support these conversations and also improve their experience of teaching and schools. It is always important to hear their side of things as well because the child you get at school is not always the child the parent gets at home. Trying to make them complete homework when they may already be overwhelmed after a day of school could be causing more damage to the relationship between parent and child and trying to work with parents to combat this is really important.  

Children are not the only ones who will benefit from a good parent teacher relationship. Parents themselves may find that they are having more rewarding and positive interactions with their child and helps remove the stigma of them not being able to help. Giving them advice and support about how they can support their child builds trust with the teacher and you may gain more insight into the parent’s worries about their child. They may be seeing something at home that is the missing piece to the things you are seeing in school. Having that open dialogue and strong parent-teacher relationship can also help teacher support parents as well. Some parents may not want to let anyone know if they are going through a tough time emotionally, socially, financially ect but by having that relationship might allow them to confide in you and you can offer support to the family. 

Here are 5 ways you can build positive relationships with your pupil’s parents: 

Regular and Transparent Communication 

Provide consistent updates on both academic and behavioral achievements – the good, the bad and the ugly. This can be done through newsletters, emails, or a dedicated parent portal. I have previously used Class Dojo and found this a really useful tool to keep parents informed with what is being taught in the classroom and allows parents to open dialogue with the teachers. If technology isn’t your thing, having a dedicated 30 minute drop in window once a week or catching a parent for a quick ‘They had a really great day today!’ can encourage more interactions between parents and teachers. Having this regular update will encourage parents to reach out with questions or concerns and responding promptly shows that you are valuing their interest and contribution. 

Involvement and Engagement 

Invite parents to participate in classroom activities,  school trips, or as guest speakers. Whether it is something they do for work or are passionate about, bringing parents along on the educational journey shows you value their expertise as much as they value yours.   

Personalised and Positive Interactions 

Sending personalised notes or messages highlighting their child’s achievements and positive behaviors is really meaningful for both pupils and parents. Regularly sharing positive feedback about their child is good for building trust and goodwill. Not only will this make parents and pupils feel great, it is a great way to show that not all interactions with teachers are about negative behaviour and ensures that attention is being given for the right reasons.  

Educational Workshops and Resources 

Offer workshops or seminars on relevant topics such as helping with homework, understanding curriculum changes, or supporting children’s emotional well-being. This doesn’t have to be something taken on by one teacher but something to consider as a whole school approach. Sometimes, a lack of parental support is not because of reluctance, but because of uncertainty. Provide parents with resources and tools to support their child’s learning at home or direct them to useful places where they can obtain this. Twinkl have a Parent Hub with a wealth of homework help, resources and even a Parenting Wiki, which gives a definition for the common terms and key vocabulary used in parenting and learning. 

Empathy and Understanding 

It is important to show genuine interest in parents' perspectives and concerns by actively listening and empathising with their situations. It is key to getting a well rounded view of the children you teach. It will also help offer the right support to both parents and pupils should additional help or support be needed. Similarly, show respect and acknowledge the diverse backgrounds and experiences of students and their families by tailoring communication and engagement approaches accordingly. Some platforms allow teachers and parents to translate messages so both parties can communicate in their mother tongue.  

The relationship between teachers and parents is key to ensuring that children receive the right help and support. One alone cannot provide everything the child needs to thrive so developing these relationship to support one another is vital. Only then will there be persistent and prolonged growth in pupils wellbeing, academics and emotional development. Leading by example is bound to create long-lasting impact in our young people. 

Whether you are a parent or a teacher, parent's evening can be a source of anxiey for both parents; read our blog on how both parents and teachers can prepare. For support advice and homework help, why not look at Twinkl's Parents Hub. Teachers, if you are looking for more advice on how to increase parental engagement, sign up for a free trial and download Twinkl's CPD: Parental Engagement tool.