Jennifer's journey

Stage Three: How have I changed?

As Jennifer reflected on the results of her survey, she became concerned that parents saw her as ‘the expert’:

• (M)ost parents think we are ‘the experts’, whereas I think the parents know more about their child than I ever would. The majority of parents don’t want to be involved and /or don’t even know what the program is. … Questions raised from my survey are:
  • Why do parents think staff are ‘experts’ or more educated in this area than they are
  • How do I feel about parents seeing me as an expert when I am not?
  • How can we invite parents to give feedback to staff through their children’s journals (which they find very rewarding)?
  • What do parents think is important for staff to know? And vice versa.

Further reflection led Jennifer to acknowledge that some families do not participate in program planning not because they aren’t interested, but because they don’t have time and/or because they want their child to experience an environment at the Centre that was different to their home. Consequently, Jennifer felt less concerned about parents’ lack of involvement and, therefore, felt less pressure to create new ways to involve them. Instead, she decided that it was more important to understand parents’ attitudes to the Centre, because this could lead to more equitable relationships with parents:

• I am trying to be more understanding in my teaching practices and where parents are coming from - their stresses, dilemmas, what’s ‘best practice’, etc. Listen to parents more and try to consider their cultural differences in raising their child. (P)arents are expected to know about the program and to want to be involved … (but) … staff should recognise that they (parents) are busy people and this needs to be respected. … Parents and staff have very similar stresses and dilemmas, which affect the way we communicate and the information we share. … Parents are constantly questioning what they are doing with their child. Staff are not ‘experts’, no-one really is when it comes to children, as they are all unique and change everyday, but parents feel we are. Possibly their insecurities, but more education doesn’t mean ‘expert’.