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What are challenges to working with families? Particularly in Early Childhood Education.?

I have an assignment due on Wednesday and I have to come up with social, economic, and educational challenges to working with families and ways to overcome these challenges. I have a HUGE list of potential challenges but I would like to narrow it down based on people's perspective's about what is the most common 3 challenges socially, economically, and educationally...to working with families. If you have any ideas or perspectives please let me know. Also ideas for overcoming these challenges.

Public Comments

1. One problem I have in working with families is to make the parents realize what we really do in Preschool. They think we "just play". In my weekly letter to the families, I let them know what we are working on and why. I intentionally use academic words sometimes just to let them know there is "a little more to it" than just dropping off your child so you can get to the store. Other problems we have at school are: parents being offended when we have to tell them about a problem their child is having, parents not paying their tuition bill, parents not realizing that their child needs a "break" from school (child is at school too many days/hours).
2. A lot of times parents do not want to take responsibility for behavioral issues or discipline problems their child may be facing in the childcare setting. Parents have to be approached in a manner that is caring and understatnding, so they don't become defensive. If parents feel that you care about their child despite behavioral challenges, and that you want to work with them on coming up with effective strategies and techniques for dealing with these situations, they will be more comfortable in relating their thoughts and ideas to the teaching staff, and hopefully an agrred upon and successful solution for a plan could be put into place. I feel that extreme behavioral issues, that are rather severe and chronic such as seriously injuring the staff or the other children can not be allowed to continue. The child need not be permanently be removed from the setting, but some intervention should be put in place, such as the child going to a counselor. As far as economic challenges, paying tuition could easily become an issue. Parents should have to pay tuitiion in advance, so they do not become in arrears to the school. Educational challenges in this seting could include any delays the child might be facing such as speech or any area of development. When talking to parents about any concerns you may have, it is good to suggest other services, such as having the child be evaluated by the speech therapist, etc.
3. I was a preschool teacher for three years. I found that the hardest challenge was working with parents with differing opinions than your own about their children. You have to remember that you're there for the child's best interest and have to work on home-school collaboration. If a parent is not easy to communicate with, things can be difficult. Good luck on your assignment!