Common Parent Teacher Conference Feedback – Part 1

Advice Into Action!

It’s that time of year again! Parent teacher conferences are officially in session, where your little one receives feedback from their educators. While it may seem like it makes sense to brush aside any comments teachers make, especially if your little one is doing something like preschool online or homeschool preschool, this is definitely not the case! No matter whether your little one is doing online preschool, in-person, or preschool at home, the feedback your toddler’s teachers have for you is crucial for you to know so that the learning can continue at home. Read on for some examples of actions to take depending on the feedback your little one may receive.

One of the most common pieces of feedback you may receive from your little one’s preschool online teacher is that they need to work on their speech, communication and/or language skills. It’s heard often, and is even common to find as feedback past toddlerhood and preschool at home! As such, there are a lot of things that can be done to work on this outside of class with your little one. One of the best ways to work on these skills is to simply talk to your child! Chat with them during mealtimes and activities, ask about what is happening in their homeschool preschool classes, and demonstrate an interest in their passions. Additionally, reading books and engaging in extracurricular activities outside of preschool at home can be a great help. It will help socialize your little one more, and will also potentially lead to the discovery of a new interest! Keep an eye on your child’s progress, and if you have any lingering concerns, it also does not hurt to consult a professional.

A piece of feedback more folks may have heard since the beginning of the pandemic and preschool at home is that your child needs more opportunities to work on their social skills. It’s understandable — though options like online preschool have offered little ones an option to work on their social skills that they otherwise would not have, it’s still tough in today’s world to find safe ways to socialize your little one. There are also a few different types of social skills that may need improvement; there are rule oriented social skills, which revolved more around manners, and social cognition social skills, which are related more to the idea of sharing — whether it’s toys, play spaces, or ideas. However, solutions for these areas are relatively easy to find! One of the best ways to socialize your little one more is through planned playdates! By planning the activity and choosing the playmate with your child, you can ensure a good time. Extracurricular activities and enrichment classes are also fantastic ways for your little one to practice those social skills outside of the homeschool preschool classroom. Play clubs can encourage exploration and imagination with support, and things like improv clubs or STEM related activities put a good emphasis on collaboration with peers!

Additionally, you might be wondering about what you should ask at a parent teacher conference! Your little one’s teacher will have their own feedback to pass along, but what are some good questions to ask in accompaniment with that feedback? Here are some sample ideas for you to consider asking your little one’s online preschool teacher:

1. Where is my child finding the most success? Do they have any special interests or strengths?
2. How can I further support my little one’s success at home? Are there any recommendations for further learning outside of class time?
3. Has my child found any strong connections with classmates who help them succeed?

Check out part two of our parent teacher conference series, and Try Our Online Preschool for FREE! Playgarden Prep offers numerous educational videos from real teachers, and numerous DIY projects that support early learning and development through homeschool preschool, preschool at home, and more!