Listen carefully

What happens when parents' views on child behaviour are different from those of your setting? Jennie Lindon has some advice

It's unlikely that parents will always agree with the way you approach child behaviour in your setting. So by focusing on friendly but assertive communication, as outlined below, you can go a long way towards preventing unnecessary conflicts (see also 'A quiet word' Nursery World, 2 August 2001).

Genuine confusion

An apparent disagreement may highlight genuine concern about how you handle certain kinds of behaviour, and can help you and your colleagues identify what could be a broader issue. For example, Vicky's father might comment, 'But surely you have to tell children what they're doing wrong - how else will Vicky learn? Don't you punish children at all?' His questions highlight the fact that some parents may not realise you do address unwanted behaviour. His comments show he is unaware how much effort goes into acknowledging the behaviour you want from children, and how you work at avoiding situations in which they feel put under the spotlight for less acceptable behaviour.