Parent-teacher conferences are typically scheduled several times each year at schools everywhere, including at many preschools and daycare centers. The meetings serve as a way for parents and early educators to work together to ensure a child's success academically, socially, and even developmentally. It also provides a prime opportunity to give and get helpful feedback. A new twist on these traditional meetings, however, is inviting kids to sit in on the discussion.
Some educators at school districts and early education settings encourage kids to actively participate in these meetings to help make them accountable for their work and behavior. It also helps to lessen any possibility of information getting twisted or "lost" in the translation between parent-teacher meetings and then subsequent talks between parent and child. Simply put, a parent hearing comments from a teacher while a child is present helps to keep conversations on a truthful path, plain and simple. In addition, since kids will also have a chance to be an active part of the discussion, they can also be a part of any solution concerning behavior or work effort.
Since parent-teacher conferences have not traditionally involved kids, parents who want their child to attend may need to make the request in advance. This allows a teacher time to present information in an age-appropriate fashion. Some may be initially reluctant while others are all-to-eager to involve the child, but a parent should avoid a surprise of bringing a child to participate unannounced.
A compromise approach to the debate of whether to include a child or not has sometimes been resolved by having the parent and teacher initially talk alone, and then include the child in a follow-up conversation immediately after.
Regardless of method, parents should embrace the opportunity to have one-on-one time with their child's educator to learn strengths, weaknesses, passions, insecurities and all the other details that may impact a child's day while at school or daycare. Working as a parent-teacher team is always the preferred solution for building a positive and successful school experience.
Some educators at school districts and early education settings encourage kids to actively participate in these meetings to help make them accountable for their work and behavior. It also helps to lessen any possibility of information getting twisted or "lost" in the translation between parent-teacher meetings and then subsequent talks between parent and child. Simply put, a parent hearing comments from a teacher while a child is present helps to keep conversations on a truthful path, plain and simple. In addition, since kids will also have a chance to be an active part of the discussion, they can also be a part of any solution concerning behavior or work effort.
Since parent-teacher conferences have not traditionally involved kids, parents who want their child to attend may need to make the request in advance. This allows a teacher time to present information in an age-appropriate fashion. Some may be initially reluctant while others are all-to-eager to involve the child, but a parent should avoid a surprise of bringing a child to participate unannounced.
A compromise approach to the debate of whether to include a child or not has sometimes been resolved by having the parent and teacher initially talk alone, and then include the child in a follow-up conversation immediately after.
Regardless of method, parents should embrace the opportunity to have one-on-one time with their child's educator to learn strengths, weaknesses, passions, insecurities and all the other details that may impact a child's day while at school or daycare. Working as a parent-teacher team is always the preferred solution for building a positive and successful school experience.