Parent-staff communication in early childhood centers

Abstract

The study focused on communication between the parents and the staffs of early childhood centers. It examined: directors', teachers', and parents' attitudes towards parent-staff communication; the procedures and practices used by directors and teachers to facilitate communication between parents and staff; and the methods used by parents to communicate with the staff of centers. -- Sixteen centers on the Avalon Peninsula were randomly selected. All the directors were interviewed; all the teachers (52) and one-half of the parents (317) received a questionnaire. The return rates were 96 and 74 percent for teachers and parents, respectively. -- The results suggest that generally, a positive attitude exists towards parent-teacher communication. Most centers employ a variety of communication practices with varying success, despite the lack of formal attention to this area. Only a few centers enforce specific policies that give parent-staff communication the importance that the literature suggests it warrants. The results of this study suggest that in most cases, parents and teachers have not yet attained a 'partnership approach' to the care and education of young children. -- Recommendations are made to licencing bodies and to the instructors of early childhood training programs. Suggestions for further research in the area of parent-staff communications are included.