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Ep #38 How to Build Relationships with Parents: 3 Tips to Get Them to Know, Like and Trust You
Knowing how to work with the parents of students with special needs is just as important as knowing how to help the students themselves.
Parents (for the most part) fall in 3 different categories...
- Very Involved
- Somewhat Involved and
- Uninvolved
One type isn’t any better or worse than the other. You can build relationships with all of them and bring the parents into your world so that they can learn to trust that you have their child’s best interest at heart.
You need to be building and nurturing a relationship with them so that they get to know, like and trust you.
But there is one thing all of these parents have in common...they are giving you the best they have. They are sharing their child with you. They want you to love their child as much as they do and they want you to protect them from all the evils in the world the same way they do.
So no matter where they fall on my little continuum of parent involvement, you need to be building and nurturing that relationship with them so that they get to know, like and trust you and in this episode I go over the 3 best ways I've found to do just that.
>> Make a good first impression
>>Open the lines of communication before a situation arises
>>Educate the parent using everyday language
When you can achieve these 3 things you will be well on your way to developing the kind of relationship that is best for you, the parent and the child.
Unfortunately, there will be times when you and a parent just don't see eye to eye. Do your best to try to understand where these parents are coming from. Understanding the parent’s motivation will help you figure out what triggers the parent so you can be proactive, instead of being anxious all the time about what’s going to happen next. And since you can’t control other people’s behavior, the place to begin is by understanding and choosing to respond from a higher place within yourself.
None of this is easy, but it is essential to your well-being as a special educator. You are in control of your thoughts and can choose what to think about. You cannot allow a handful of parents to steal your joy and enthusiasm.
Remind yourself that there is an end to every season...even the hard ones.
Give today's show a listen!
Mentioned in the Show...
What's Your Special Educator Superpower Quiz
Parent Handbook for Special Education
A Visual to Understanding Percentiles [Freebie]
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