Sometimes I feel like parents do not care?

Question

I am a preschool teacher. I spend a lot of time outside of work writing lesson plans (that we send home with the parents), newsletters, planning activities, and printing pictures of the kids.... I know this is the life of the teacher, but sometimes I feel like parents do not care! I have parents that do not know that is going on at all, I feel like they never read any of the stuff that is sent home. Then they get upset when they didn't know something... How can I help the situation, and should I just get over it?

Answer 1

Yes, it is true that some parents are careless for their children, I also faced problems like this. But do not give up for such children as v are equally responsible for all our students.

For such parents I would suggest u to organise educative skits on parent teacher meet. or in the monthly news letter write few motivating/ educative stories.

When they come to meet u in the school tell them that their  child is very bright and can do wonders if given proper attention at home.

You can make students write a good caption and get it signed by the parents, so that they also read and educate them selves.

Answer 2

I have a child of 5 and I always make sure to look in her book bag as soon as we get in from school to see if there are any letters etc.but I know a lot of the women who work just dont seem to know whats going on, The only thing you can do is to put a notice up outside the classroom(as well as sending letters home)to let parents know of any activities or whatever it is you want them to know.Also you could try telling the children "dont forget to let mum or dad know that you have a letter for them to read because I would really like them to read it". I dont know if your pre school is part of a school like ours,if it is then ask the head to call a meeting for all parents and let them know what you have said here.If there is no head then whoever is in charge could say (at the end of nativity play for example) that a lot of parents are not reading the letters etc. Good luck,I think you do a marvellous job.x

Answer 3

Many parents are over-worked, stressed out and leave tending to the children up to the teachers. It's not the way it should be, but is.

Answer 4

I say use the phone call and leave a big chain message on the answering machines at home that will do it.  At least my school does it.

Answer 5

There are parents who care. There are some who don't. And you can't do anything about it. You'll know which parents care because they will read the notices, be on parents-teacher conferences on time, etc. And you'll know which parents don't care. Unfortunately, there are parents who don't care! But I would just try giving my best to all children, especially because it's preschool and children, at that age, need to have at school whatever is not given at home: sometimes it is love & attention! ;)

Answer 6

Often parents are as overworked and under appreciated at their job as you are at yours. One way to improve communication with parents is with a daily communication paper (DCP) sent home in the child's folder. At the top is your name, the class name and the child's name. (Ms. Smith, Private P-K 4, Amy Wells) Underneath it has three columns and six rows. The first column has Mon-Fri on it, starting in the second row. The 1st column says "DAY" the 2nd "Teacher Comments" the 3rd "Parent Comments".  Each day in the DCP write a little note to the parent about the child that day, remember to temper anything negative with something positive first. IE: Amy really is doing well with her colors, but she needs to remember to not play rough when playing outside. She did share her favorite toy today!

And also add little notes:  Don't forget about the Christmas Party this Friday!

This way if mom says, "Why didn't I know about the Christmas play?" you can say, "Well, here it is in the DCP i send home everyday with your child.

Good luck and keep trucking. Yes you are undervalued by parents, but those children LOVE you tremendously!

Answer 7

Try to make your newsletters more interesting by including information about the children using their names. Tell stories about the children.

Parents love to read about their children. Also  , I've offered "rewards" for people who prove they read the newsletter- like ask a question in the newsletter , and if the parents come up to me and answer it- they get a piece of candy or something.

I also remindf them all the time how important it is to read the newsletters.

Answer 8

Parents just do not have time for there kids these days.

It used to be that the mother stayed home & took care of their children, or @ least that they cared more about their childs education.

Unfortunately, they depend on the teachers to have all the answers.  I too was into Pre-School aged children.

Answer 9

Most likely they do not care. Sorry, but that's the truth, and I'd suggest getting over it. You can't hold that burden on yourself or you'll get burned out REALLY quickly. You'll have two or three parents that you'll be able to depend on each year.

We always enjoyed getting weekly newsletters from the teachers when my kids were in school. There are many simple computer programs, but perhaps you know that since you are already doing it. If they don't know that's their problem. It's possible you are doing too much, and it's okay to let some of that go as well. It sounds like you are excited about teaching, but if you are wearing yourself out and a majority don't appreciate it, to what end is that happening?

I'd like to turn the table however. How much do you know of the families? I don't expect you to know every little detail, but think about it...every child you have in your classroom has parents who work, who run homes, who may have a terminally ill grandparent, or foreclosures on their home, physical or mental illnesses. You can't know all that, but try to assume positive intent. People are busy. People have problems. You can't possibly know it all, so don't assume they just don't care. IF they didn't care they wouldn't get upset.

Preschool is hard because it's the beginning of the school life of a child. Parent's *don't* know about all the things that are offered or expected.

Answer 10

The stuff about parents being over worked is B.S!!!  I was a preschool teacher for 3 years.  A lot of parents use it as a babysitter and treat you as one.  The parents who care will continue to care and the ones who don't show you by their lack of interest.  It is part of the job.  You are the childs second mother for 5 days a week and get very little credit.  I hate to be the pessimist, but it is very hard to get them involved.  The ones who want to be involved will show up.  Appreciate that they do and continue to do your best!