The Relationship between Parent/Staff Communication and Children's Behaviour in Early Childhood Settings

Abstract The relationship between parent/staff communication and the behaviour and adjustment of 3 to 4 year old children was examined. Sixty children attending childcare centres or kindergartens were observed and their parents and teachers interviewed about the nature and quality of parent‐staff communications. There were many small but significant correlations between measures of staff/parent relationships and children's behaviour. Where there was more parent/staff communication, and it was more balanced, warm and reciprocal, children were more likely to talk with teachers or be close to teachers, and were perceived by staff to be better adjusted. Also better parent/staff communication was related to more positive and less negative social interactions with peers. Parents spent more time touching and farewelling their children when they had better relationships with staff. Parents with cooler, more distant and professional relationships spent longer settling their children in to play activities before their departure. Key Words: CommunicationChild AdjustmentMesosystemParentsStaff