Communicating with Parents of Infants

"The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less." - Eldridge Cleaver

Communicating with Parents of Infants

In her Exchange article (July, 1997), "Conferencing with Parents of Infants," Kay Albrecht discusses how conferencing with parents of infants is different than doing so with parents of older children.  She describes four types of conferences:

"Re-conceptualizing conferencing into a more multi-dimensional approach lessens the feeling of being overwhelmed by infant parents.  Parent communication is viewed as an ongoing two way communication system between parents, the school, and the teacher. The foundation of the relationship is a reciprocal one that benefits both participants. Four types of conferencing facilitate a reciprocal relationship:

*  formal, face to face conferences with written documentation;

*  informal conferences with written documentation;

*  formal, oral conferences that occur at checkpoints in the care and early education schedule; and

*  informal, oral conferences that occur as a part of the regular interface between the parent and the teacher."

You can read about these four types of conferences by locating this article in the Free Resources section of our web site at http://mail.ccie.com/go/eed/0354

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