How do you build healthy relationships with challenging parents?

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A Preschool Director needs to establish and maintain healthy relationships with the parents and families of their students - even the most challenging ones! Most challenging parents and guardians have the right intentions, but perhaps lack understanding or proper boundaries.

Explain to the interviewers that you graciously accept difficult parents and that you show them empathy and kindness. Discuss how you approach a challenging family member of a student while maintaining professional communication and setting a positive example to your faculty.

"Throughout my years as a Preschool Director, I have learned that parent communication is an incredibly important factor to a well-run school. Challenging or not, every family deserves seamless communication when it comes to the education and well-being of their children. If I have a hard time connecting with a parent, I will begin by taking the initiative and striking up a friendly conversation. I am mindful of being non-judgemental in situations where I feel the parent is not behaving agreeably. I will ask open-ended questions when I speak with challenging parents, which allows me to get to know them better and become more empathetic to their situation. I also find that consistent communication can do wonders for breaking down walls. I send out a weekly newsletter to all parents in which I offer a recap of our learning for the week. We have an app called Collaborize Classroom where I can send updates, homework links, and photos through to the parents. This effort allows parents to get to know my personality better and warm up to the fact that I have only the best intentions when it comes to their child's' care."

Anonymous Answer

"Parents want to feel heard, and they want to know that when they are bringing a concern to you that you are also concerned about it. You need to be kind and friendly, if they come to you with a concern you need to address it, and you need to follow through and tell them what you did. Their child is the most important thing in their world- and they need you to feel that way also."