Parents are encouraged every day to communicate with their kids. Having open conversations, asking about their day at school and finding out ways to stay involved are all suggested in order for parents to keep their kids safe and secure. But, parents can’t talk to their kids about school safety or issues if the school isn’t talking to the parents.
According to The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), “Two-thirds of parents have never talked to their children’s teachers about safety issues…” Children spend eight hours a day, five days a week at their schools, it only makes sense that parents would want to be informed of the safety measure being taken to protect them. The questions they worry over every day- “Is my child safe?” “What would happen if there was an emergency?”- could be sated by an open line of communication between the school and the parent.
Schools can create an effective communication system with parents by doing a few, simple things:
Engage Parents in Planning:
Inviting parents to participate in programs that affect the safety of their children can help them to feel informed and involved. By simply inviting a few parents to sit on committees or boards that have to do with safety procedures or programs, the school can build a relationship between staff and parents. The participating parents can then communicate with other parents, furthering the communication.
Branch Out- Use Local Media
Many schools already have a number of ways they communicate with parents; email, newsletters, texting, automated calls, etc. But, reaching past those traditional methods may help reach a larger number of parents, including other involved parties in the community including grandparents and other family members. Local media such as the TV news and radio broadcasts are effective ways to promote new safety procedures and programs or call attention to new issues.
Don’t Just Talk, Listen
How do the parents in your community want to be informed?
The NCPE states that more than half of parents prefer calls and email as the primary form of communication from schools. If a school is still using newsletters as their primary tool, they may not be reaching everyone.
By asking for feedback from parents, schools can then make informed decisions on the best ways to communicate and make sure that everyone is receiving the information they need.
Cover All Your Bases
When it comes to protecting children in schools, the first thing that comes to mind is usually what to do during emergency situations such as severe weather, shootings or bomb scares. But, everyday issues can be just as detrimental to a child’s well-being. Bullying, fighting and hate crimes can be just as scary and can occur on a daily basis. They may not be pleasant to talk about, and many may not want to admit they are happening, but by being aware of the situations and informing parents, the parents can then prepare the students. Parents can begin to talk to their kids, find out more information and then hopefully become partners in prevention.
By taking the time to talk to parents, communicate important issues and ask for feedback and opinions, schools can create an environment where both children and parents feel secure.
