![]() | What Caregivers and Early Learning and Childcare Providers Can DoAs an early learning or child care provider or caretaker, the children you look after often spend more time with you than anyone else other than their family.Regardless of whether you’re a childcare worker or a friend or family member looking after the children of others, your interactions with the children you care for have a profound influence on their lives and those of their families. Your frequent interaction with families allows you to be a partner and confidante to parents and family members who may share their struggles and challenges with you. |
You know parenting can be demanding and asking for help can be hard. Acknowledging this and offering support is an important connection for all families.
You can also support parents and families by modeling good child-caretaker interactions to parents. Drop-off and pick-up can be rushed, stressful times of the day, but you can offer calm, smooth interactions while listening to parents and relaying important information about their child’s day.
To support families during times of stress, you can guide parents toward community-based resources so that they can get the information or services they need.
In order to provide the best care possible for the children you look after, it is important for you to continue to nourish your own professional learning and find ways to improve or build upon your childcare practices or program.
Accommodating the diverse needs of the children in your care can be a challenge, but there are resources that can help you manage special situations—here are a few examples: