Parent-Teacher Collaboration Strengthens Children Even More

It is always important for parents whose children go to school to have a constant and regular relationship with teachers. Children do not need to have any problems at school to establish this relationship. The important thing is to establish this relationship correctly from the very beginning, to follow the children in the best way possible and to contribute to their education and development. Research shows that when the parent-teacher relationship is good, there are differences in children's success. It would be beneficial to examine the following tips on the subject.

How to build a strong parent-teacher relationship?

• In the relationships to be established between parents and teachers, it is necessary to pay attention and attach importance to the following headings: Trust, mutual respect, open communication, honesty, active listening, flexibility, caring, understanding, sharing responsibility and a full flow of information.

• Parents connecting with their children's teachers before they have any problems with school will be an important start for both the beginning of a positive relationship and the child's behavior.

• Parents should talk a little about themselves in their first meeting with teachers and ask them about what they can help them with in their child's education.

• The teacher should ask about the goals and expectations his child has set for the classroom. Likewise, he/she should share the goals he/she has planned for his/her child with the teacher.

• Parents should always be open and honest with the teacher. For example, he/she should explain the problems experienced before with his/her child and share the solutions with the teacher, if any.

• Parents can get to know the teacher better as a member of the parent-teacher association by helping with class projects and trips as long as their time allows.

How are children affected by families' good relationships with the school?

According to research, children's school lives are affected in very positive ways, thanks to parents who establish good relationships with the schools and teachers their children attend from the beginning:

• Children have more positive attitudes towards school

• Most children achieve higher success in reading skills

• In general, student success increases, they get higher grades and are more successful in tests.

• In the long run, they achieve better academic success.

• The increase and abundance of their participation in social events held at the school is noteworthy.

As can be seen when looking at all these, when parents have a closer and correct relationship with the school or teacher, children inevitably establish a better relationship with the school and there is a visible increase in their success.