Communicating with Your Child's Daycare Teachers: Best Practices 2026

Your child's daycare teachers spend more waking hours with your child than you do on weekdays. Building strong, positive relationships with these caregivers benefits everyone—especially your child. Good communication helps teachers understand and support your child better while keeping you informed and involved.

This guide helps you establish effective communication with your child's teachers and build the partnership that supports your child's development.

Teacher and parent

Why Teacher Communication Matters

Benefits for Your Child

When parents and teachers communicate well:

Consistency between home and school
Needs are better understood
Issues addressed early
Child sees adults working together
Stronger sense of security
Better developmental outcomes

Benefits for You

Good communication means:

Knowing what's happening daily
Understanding your child's experience
Catching problems early
Feeling connected to care
Peace of mind while at work
Partnership in parenting

Benefits for Teachers

Teachers appreciate:

Understanding your child better
Having context for behaviors
Parent support for their work
Clear expectations
Positive working relationship
Feeling valued

Daily Communication

Drop-Off Communication

Quick but important:

Brief update on morning/night
Any relevant information (poor sleep, teething, etc.)
Changes to routine
Pickup person if different
Keep it brief (others waiting)

Good examples:

"She's teething and may be fussy"
"He didn't sleep well—might need early nap"
"Grandma is picking up today"
"She's excited about the playground"

Pickup Communication

Getting daily updates:

Ask how the day went
Any notable moments
Eating, sleeping, diapers
Mood and activities
Read any written reports

Good questions:

"How was her day?"
"Did she nap well?"
"Any concerns?"
"What did she enjoy today?"

Written Reports

Many daycares provide:

Daily written reports
App-based updates
Feeding and diaper logs
Activity summaries
Photos sometimes

Using reports:

Review daily
Note patterns
Follow up on concerns
Show interest in activities
Keep for records

Communication Apps

Common platforms:

Brightwheel
HiMama
Tadpoles
ClassDojo
ProCare

Using apps effectively:

Check regularly
Respond to messages
Use messaging appropriately
Don't over-message
Appreciate the transparency

Building Relationships

Getting to Know Teachers

Take time to:

Learn names of all caregivers
Ask about their background
Show interest in them as people
Acknowledge their hard work
Treat them with respect

Showing Appreciation

Ways to show gratitude:

Verbal thanks regularly
Teacher appreciation gifts
Notes of appreciation
Positive feedback to director
Acknowledging hard work

Being a Good Partner

What teachers appreciate:

Being on time
Following policies
Communication about issues
Respect for their expertise
Support at home for classroom goals

Parent-teacher relationship

Sharing Important Information

What Teachers Need to Know

Always share:

Changes at home (new baby, move, divorce)
Health concerns or diagnoses
Sleep changes
Behavioral changes at home
Stressors affecting your child
Upcoming events that may affect child

How to Share Sensitive Information

Private conversation:

Request a moment away from others
Email for documentation
Schedule meeting for complex topics
Share what's helpful, not everything

Example: "I wanted you to know we're going through some changes at home that might affect Emma's behavior. Her dad and I have separated. She may be clingy or emotional. Please let me know if you notice anything concerning."

Medical and Developmental Information

If your child has:

Allergies or medical needs
Developmental concerns
Therapy services
IEP or IFSP
Behavioral plan

Share:

Written documentation
Specific strategies that help
Emergency procedures
How to coordinate with therapists
Regular updates

Handling Concerns

When You Have Concerns

Approach:

Address early, don't let it fester
Be specific about the issue
Use "I" statements
Listen to their perspective
Work together on solutions

Good approach: "I noticed Marcus has been resisting drop-off lately. Have you seen anything at school that might explain this? I'd like to work together on making mornings easier."

Not helpful: "Something's wrong at this daycare. Marcus hates coming here."

When Teachers Have Concerns

When they raise issues:

Listen without defensiveness
Ask clarifying questions
Thank them for sharing
Work together on solutions
Follow up

They may notice:

Developmental concerns
Behavioral changes
Social challenges
Learning differences
Health issues

Escalating Issues

If not resolved with teacher:

Schedule meeting with director
Document concerns
Propose specific solutions
Give time for change
Know when to leave

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Preparing for Conferences

Before the meeting:

Write down your questions
Note observations from home
Think about goals for your child
Review any reports or assessments
Be open to feedback

What to Ask

Good conference questions:

How is my child doing socially?
What are their strengths?
What areas need support?
How can I help at home?
What activities do they enjoy?
Any concerns about development?
What goals do you have for them?

After the Conference

Follow up by:

Implementing suggestions
Communicating about progress
Checking in on concerns
Showing appreciation
Maintaining partnership

Communication Dos and Don'ts

Do

Be respectful of their time
Communicate honestly
Appreciate their expertise
Follow through on your commitments
Give positive feedback
Respond to their communications
Be part of the team

Don't

Expect teachers to solve all problems
Criticize in front of others
Compare your child to others
Demand immediate responses
Undermine their authority
Ignore their concerns
Treat them as "just babysitters"

Special Communication Situations

When Your Child Struggles

Working together:

Be honest about challenges
Hear their observations
Collaborate on strategies
Try their suggestions
Update on what works at home
Be patient with progress

When You Disagree

If you disagree with approach:

Discuss respectfully
Understand their reasoning
Share your concerns
Find compromise
Escalate if necessary

When Your Child Is Hurt

Accidents happen:

Get facts calmly
Understand what happened
Don't blame immediately
Ask about prevention
Monitor your child
Follow up as needed

When Teachers Change

During transitions:

Say goodbye to departing teacher
Welcome new teacher
Share information again
Give adjustment time
Build new relationship

Communication Styles

Respect Different Styles

Teachers vary:

Some are very communicative
Others more reserved
Communication methods differ
Cultural differences exist

Adapt by:

Finding what works for them
Stating your preferences
Finding middle ground
Not taking style personally

Expressing Your Needs

If you need more communication: "I'd love to hear a bit more about how the day went. Would it be possible to get a brief verbal update at pickup, or should I check the app for that?"

If it's too much: "I appreciate all the updates! I don't always have time to respond to everything, but I do read them. Please don't hesitate to flag anything urgent."

Key Takeaways

Build the relationship:

Learn teachers' names
Show appreciation
Be respectful
Treat them as partners

Communicate effectively:

Brief at drop-off/pickup
Use apps appropriately
Share important information
Listen as well as talk

Handle concerns well:

Address early
Be specific and solution-focused
Hear their perspective
Work together

Maximize conferences:

Prepare questions
Be open to feedback
Follow up on suggestions
Stay engaged

Be a good partner:

Follow through
Respect their expertise
Support at home
Show gratitude

Strong communication with your child's teachers creates a supportive team around your child. Investing in these relationships pays off in better care, early intervention when needed, and peace of mind for you.

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