Parent Childcare Community Collaboration

As a past writer I wanted to speak about Reggio Emilia. 

I have read many articles on child care issues and parent issues and have come to the conclusion that Reggio is the solution.

When you choose a childcare you are also choosing the person who "cares" for your child when you are not "caring" for your child. 

This relationship should be as open and close as a family member.  This relationship does not always happen naturally and takes some time.  Both parents and child care providers need to work together to make that Reggio relationship work. 

This means it is not the parents job to make things convenient for the childcare provider and it is not the childcare provider's job to make things convenient for the parents.  It is both parties' jobs to make life convenient for each other.

When there is conflict with care providers or parents there is conflict for your children.  It is like kicking your self in the pants.  The point is is that it is in your best interest to get along or you are hurting your child.

This is a business of raising our children together.  I encourage both child care providers and parents to focusing on working together instead of battling over trivial things when our goal is the same...raising bright successful children. 

Providers should listen and ask about specifics about how parents want their children to be cared for.  Parents should listen to educated providers about new innovative ways of providing care.  Providers that are invested in their business participate in continued education and can offer some new and sometimes better ways of care for your child.

Children are not library books that you drop off and pick up at your convenience.  They are human beings and your child care provider is a human being developing a relationship with the most important asset of your life, your child. If you do not feel that way about your provider you should consider changing providers.

I see the battle of views between parent and child care provider very often.  The parent feels they are paying to have someone care for their child and are in a manager role of hiring the child care provider and often have little to no interaction with the provider. It is near impossible to build relationships with no interaction. In Reggio environments it is a partnership and a collaboration along with a common goal of working together and supporting our children.