What do parents perceive as their role in relation to the Day care worker?

Question

What do parents perceive as their role in relation to the Day care worker?

Answer 1

hopefully its a partnership. working together for the same common goal. raising a child.

Answer 2

Honestly I've never really had a realtionship with any day care workers. I was closer to the owners of the daycare. The owners were the ones that hired/fired the workers and they are the ones that set the rules and are familiar with state regulations, etc. My daycare went through a lot of workers so often I didn't see a point of trying to build a relationship with them. Also the way I saw it is I'm paying them to watch my children and if I wasn't satisfied I would complain, ask questions, etc.

Answer 3

I see it as a partnership to help raise my child....to work with me and I work with them...setting a good example to my child that we are there for her and that we love her.

Answer 4

I am a parent of a 3 1/2 year old and the way I see it is that the day care person should act like the parent when I am not there. Meaning he or she is responsible for my child's needs just as I am responsible for them when I have my child. Behavioral problems should be dealt with properly form Day care worker as well as from home. You overall should work hand in hand because your the parent and because the child care worker is the other person that deals with your child the time you don't have your kid. Key point the role should be very important and equally.

Answer 5

Well I am not only a "caregiver/teacher" in a preschool program but I am a mother of a preschool daughter in the center. So I see both ends pretty well.

As a teacher I hope the parents don't look at us as people who just babysit their kids while they work. We teach them the basis of what they need to know when they go to kindergarten. In my center, most parents and I will touch base in the morning and afternoon relaying important information about the child to each other. I try VERY hard to accomodate each family and their child. If I notice an issue that causes concern, I gently bring it up to the parents and work with them to devise a plan to help the child. I WILL go out of my way and purchase things with my OWN money ... not the daycare's ... to get certain materials to help the child. The parents who I have helped have shown great appreciation for the attention and 1:1 time I've spent working with their child and feels good to know I'm appreciated. I can speak for all caregivers and teachers that a compliment or thank you is really appreciated when we go out and really work with the child. I did this for many families but one was so appreciative the family and son still bring it up to this day and it feels so great to hear the boy bring this up to me every now and then.

I know there are families who deeply appreciate this sort of thing and some just tend to look over the hard work (whether it be to hectic personal schedules or whatever). We don't just sit there and babysit the child. We create a foundation of learning that will ease their transition into kindergarten.

As a parent with a child in the center, I HOPE my coworkers treat her with the same respect as they treat others in their care. I don't want my daughter given "special treatment" just b/c she's my daughter. My coworkers should feel comfortable approaching me about anything pertaining to my daughter. It's a weird situation b/c I'm there as a teacher AND a mother so I get both worlds. My daughter had a HUGE seperation thing with me and only ONE coworker would take on the task of helping me and my daughter with this issue. I'm eternally greatful for all the work she has done with making my daughter seperate from me. This coworker and I have a good working relationship in the preschool department and she takes my daughter in the morning in her group. Then in the afternoon I get to have my daughter in my group. It's been a tough road with that but b/c of ONE dedicated caregiver/teacher .. she's helped my daughter tremendously.

In one of the responses here, I was actually a little hurt by what someone had said about not getting to know the teachers/caregivers and she only had good relationships with the owners b/c they hired and fired people. As a teacher I want to say ....

Please establish a good relationship with us. We are not an enemy. We work with your child personally and we can do it more effectively if you communicate with us. Yeah you could go through our boss but making a conversation one on one with us goes much further. If you show your child you are comfortable talking to us then they in turn will show they are comfortable. I've worked in the preschool field for almost 5 years and I'm not about to leave. I love my kids and I love the center I work in. There are other teachers who are just like this all over the place but if you don't take the time to get to know them and establish that great relationship with them ... you will only look at them as another babysitter who will just leave. Not ALL of us do this ... I'm sorry about how that person felt about the daycare her child was in and I hope she has been able to find a more suitable place where she could create those essential teacher/parent bonds.

Answer 6

They should be in a strong supportive role.  Co-operate and contribute to events as well.