Let’s be honest. Once upon a time before you actually had a child, you may have thought that as soon as you gave birth you would magically know the answers to all the parenting questions you could imagine, such as:
“Why do babies cry?”
“How do I know if my baby is getting enough milk?”
“Why is my child’s poo green?!?!”
“When will I quit hearing the Baby Shark song everywhere I go?”
We have bad news and good news for you. Here’s the bad first: there is no magical download “a-ha!” moment after giving birth. The good news? You are surrounded by moms, dads, grandparents, aunties, child care teachers and nannies, and so many other resources to help you figure out your questions. Answers come with experience, so before searching Google, ask one – or two or three -- of your trusted sources.
If your child attends an early learning program, the caregivers are excellent advisors and welcome helping you with your questions and concerns. Not only do they have years of hands-on experience in child development and learning as well as continued education and training, they have cared for girls and boys, children from different races and backgrounds, and dealt with many unusual circumstances. They may not be able to answer your burning question about when Baby Shark will be less popular, but they can certainly help with questions around self-soothing, potty training, early literacy, kindergarten readiness, and developing emotional intelligence that helps with building friendships.
Tips to Engage with Your Child Care Provider
If your child care provider shares a regular newsletter or other communication, be sure to read it. It most likely contains important information and news that you can use.
Schedule a time to talk with your child’s teacher to voice concerns and ask for advice. Don’t try to have meaningful conversations during morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up.
Get to know your child’s teacher better by finding out about their likes and dislikes, their background and even their family. It will help you relate more to them and make it easier to confide in them or ask for help.
If your child care provider is not sharing regular information about your child’s day and development while in their care, ask. And let them know that you would appreciate more consistent and regular updates so that you have a cohesive care plan for your child.
Listen to your child’s caregiver and provide thoughtful input.
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