Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Your Assignment Module Number and Heading: CHCRF511A Work in Parnership with Families to Provide Approppriate Care for Children
Your Assignment Type: Standard Question
Currently Working in Childcare? No
Your knowledge: Basic Knowledge

Your Question?
What are some possible concerns families may have about their child, and how can you respond appropriately, being consistent with the guidelines in the EYLF? (give examples)

What is your answer so far or What have you done so far as an attempt to solve this question?
I have found the families concerns: 1) Families may have some possible concerns about their children as below:
 Children’s Health-related issues: concern about their child or questions about the educators’ hygiene procedures
 Children’s Behavioural issues: concern about their child’s behavior and adjustment
 Children’s developmental issues: concern about their child is doing well in the major areas of development and their child’s abilities, strengths and possible problems.
 ‘Care practices and procedures used by care providers may often raise questions, particularly where these practices differ from the way things are done at home.’
 ‘Issues with educators, which can also lead parents to want to ask questions or express opinions.’
2) Respond the families’ concerns:
 ‘Good communication ensures a positive and cooperative approach to any issues of concern. ’
 ‘Educators must be able to respond to families’ concerns in a positive, caring and supportive way. Conveying your own attentiveness, sincerity and concern is essential.’
 ‘Effective listening involves empathy, open body language and communicating to the parents with an understanding of their concerns.’
 Discuss situation causing concern with family member to reach clear understanding of situation
- Using effective communication
- Asking questions
 Developing and implementing response strategies
- Look closely at the issue/s of concern
- Determine the impact of this concern on the child, family and service
- Discuss options available to address the area of concern
- Choose the options that should produce the best outcome for the child’ this may include bringing in professional assistance from outside the service or centre
- Measure progress regularly to determine the effectiveness of a strategy
- Monitor the strategy and take further action if necessary
 Following up
- Could involve a range of activities that contribute to an appropriate outcome
- Should be made on a frequent and regular basis for a response strategy to be effective.

Description and Message:
Please give me a help to check my answer. Many thanks!

A great thanks for you, L.A! I have added the sources to my references already.
Wish you have a good weekend!

Hi, L.A,
Sorry to bother you again!

I jusr found that I have updated my answer already, would you mind help me to check the new answer? I don't know which one is better answer for that question.

Thanks lots!

Answer:
1) Families may have some possible concerns about their children as below:
 Children’s Health-related issues: concern about their child is eating right, getting enough sleep, making friends, making appropriate friends, is liked by their teachers, is accepted by their extended family, or questions about the educators’ hygiene procedures，safety and supervision of children
 Children’s Behavioural issues: concern about their child’s behavior and adjustment
 Children’s developmental issues: concern about their child is doing well in the major areas of development and their child’s abilities, strengths and possible problems.
 ‘Care practices and procedures used by care providers may often raise questions, particularly where these practices differ from the way things are done at home.’ Leaving their child in care (they may feel guilty about this) The adequacy of their own care giving (this may be further exasperated by stresses at work and home)
 ‘Issues with educators, which can also lead parents to want to ask questions or express opinions.’ Feeling incompetent by being given unsolicited advice.

2) Respond the families’ concerns:
 I will listen carefully families concerns about their children and acknowledge the families’ feelings.
 Then, I will ask questions to clarify the concerns. I will try to understand what the families’ want and discuss the plan and strategies with them.
 I will observe the children’s behaviours/performance of the areas of the concerns during my caring. After a period of careful observation, I may able to reassure families that their children’s development is normal and it is on the right track. If I did not have an ability to answer or solve their concerns, I will avoid giving some judgmental comments. I will seek a help from my director or I will respect the families’ decisions and encourage parents to seek specialist advice.
For example: Eva (3.5 years) comes from a Chinese family and just joined a childcare centre. She usually drinks a warmed water or milk at home. Once, she came back from the childcare centre and had a stomach-ache and diarrhoea in the late evening. Her mum found that she had drunk a cup of cold milk during the afternoon tea. Hence, Eva’s mum went back to the childcare centre next morning and mentioned the eating habit to Eva’s teacher. The teacher listened carefully about her concern and asked Eva’s eating habit and talked about the Chinese food culture with Eva’s mum. She clarified the concern with Eva’s mum and made an agreement with Eva’s mum for giving water to instead the milk to Eva. The teacher put Eva’s special need on a notice book and wrote a note on a white stick tape on the refrigerator. The solution respected the family culture needs and solved the problem, because the centre could not offer a warmed milk or water for her daughter due the Australian food culture.

Many thanks for your help, L.A!

I will use the sencond edition for my assessment.

Thanks again!