How to Talk to Parents About Developmental Concerns - post

Related State Bundles

Alabama 12 hour Annual Training Bundle

$85

Are you currently working in an Alabama child care center and looking to meet your 12-hour annual training requirement? Then you’re ready for this all-in-one annual training bundle!

Our Alabama 12 hour Annual Training Bundle offers a streamlined way to complete your yearly in-service training as required by the Alabama Department of Human Resources. This bundle includes interactive courses in health and safety, child development, positive guidance, emergency preparedness, language development, and more.

Stay compliant, build your professional knowledge, and maintain your eligibility to work in licensed child care programs across Alabama—all at your own pace.

✅ Fulfills the 12-hour annual in-service training requirement for center-based child care workers
✅ Approved for Alabama DHR compliance
✅ Ideal for renewing licenses and maintaining employment in regulated child care centers

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Alabama 20- Hour Annual Training Bundle for Family/Group Day Care Home Licensee

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Are you an Alabama family or group day care home licensee looking to fulfill your 20-hour annual training requirement? Then you're ready for this comprehensive, home-provider-focused training bundle!

This Alabama Licensee Annual Training Bundle is tailored exclusively for licensed providers operating family or group day care homes. It meets the 20 clock hours of annual training required by the Alabama DHR and covers all six mandated training areas. Whether you're renewing your license, preparing for inspection, or enhancing the quality of care in your home program, this bundle ensures you're in full compliance and growing professionally.

🎯 What’s Included in This Bundle:

• ✅ Child Development
• ✅ Health and Safety
• ✅ Positive Guidance & Discipline 
• ✅ Language and Literacy Development
• ✅ Family Communication

✅ Why Choose This Bundle?

• Aligned with Alabama DHR Family and Group Day Care Home Licensing Standards
• Designed specifically for home-based child care providers
• Flexible, online, self-paced access
  
  

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Alabama 24- Hour Preservice Training Bundle for Family/Group Day Care Homes

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Are you planning to open a licensed family or group day care home in Alabama? Do you need to complete your 24 hours of preservice training? Then you’re ready for this specialized training bundle!

This Alabama Family/Group Day Care Homes 24- Hour Preservice Training Bundle is tailored for prospective licensees operating family or group day care homes. It meets the 24-hour preservice training requirement set by Alabama DHR and includes focused modules on child development, universal precautions, nutrition, licensing regulations, and family communication.

Whether you’re preparing to launch your own in-home child care business or updating your credentials, this training will guide you through every essential topic to ensure a successful and compliant start.

✅ Satisfies the Alabama DHR 24-hour preservice training requirement for new licensees
✅ Covers all six required training areas
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Why This Conversation Matters

As a child-care provider, you spend time observing children’s behaviours, skills, and interactions every day. When you notice something that suggests a child may be behind or different in their #developmental progress, having a thoughtful conversation with #parents can make a real difference. Early concerns addressed close to their appearance can #lead to timely support and better outcomes for the child. It also strengthens your partnership with the family, which is a key part of quality care.

Preparing Yourself Before the Conversation

Before you approach a parent with your observations, preparation helps you stay calm, clear, and supportive. Consider these steps:

• Gather objective observations. Note specific behaviours or skills you’ve seen over a period of days or weeks (for example: “When others are jumping two-footed, I see that Alex still hops on one foot only”).

• Review developmental domains. It helps to remind yourself of areas such as #language, social-emotional, cognitive, physical motor skills, and adaptive behaviours. A useful resource: How can I communicate more effectively with parents and families?

• Choose a good time and place. Find a moment when the parent is not rushed, you have some privacy, and you’re not in the middle of caring for many children.

• Reflect on your tone and mindset. Enter with #empathy—not blame, not alarm. You are sharing observations and seeking collaboration, not delivering a verdict.

• Have handouts or resources ready. A developmental‐milestones checklist, or a handout for families. These can help parents see the facts and feel less overwhelmed. For example, here’s a resource: Developmental Milestones Checklist. 

What to Actually Say: Conversation Steps

Here is a recommended flow you can adapt:

1. Open with the positive.

   • “I enjoy working with Maya—she is curious about books and really enjoys circle time.”

2. Share the observation neutrally.

   • “Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed that when we ask children to name two colours, she names one colour only and then moves off task.”

3. Explain what you mean and why you’re sharing.

   • “Because naming colours is part of our #preschool readiness skills, I thought it might be helpful for us to talk together about how she’s doing and ways we might support her.”

4. Invite the parent’s view.

   • “How do you see it at #home? Does she point out colours when you’re driving, or name them at home?”

   • Listen carefully—parents may have observations you don’t.

5. Collaborate on next steps.

   • “We could monitor this for another 4-6 weeks and I can send home a simple checklist. Alternatively, if you like, I can share a referral list of specialists. What would feel best to you?”

6. Offer resources and your support.

   • “Here’s a short handout about naming colours and simple games you can try at home.”

   • “If you’d like, I can check in with you after a month to see how things are going.”

7. End with affirmation.

   • “I appreciate you talking with me. I care about Maya’s success and we’ll work together.”

Tips for the Conversation

• Use non-medical language: avoid jargon like “delay” or “deficit”. Instead you might say “seems to need extra time” or “is showing signs of needing help in this area.”

• Be specific: vague phrases like “he’s behind” are less helpful than “he has not yet begun using two-word phrases by the age of 30 months.”

• Be honest but hopeful: you might say “We don’t need to jump to conclusions, but it may be wise to get more information now so we can support him well.”

• Maintain privacy and respect: speak quietly, one-on-one if possible, and ensure the parent doesn’t feel judged.

• Emphasize partnership: You and the parent are on the same team for the child. Use “we” language.

• Follow up: Give the parent a chance to ask questions later. Provide consistent updates.

• Know your referral system: If you believe a formal evaluation is needed, be ready to explain how that might work (e.g., local #early-intervention program, school district).

What to Do After the Conversation

• Document what you observed and the conversation you had—in your #classroom notes.

• Set a reminder to revisit the issue: “Check back in two weeks to see how the child is progressing or how the parent is using the strategy.”

• Provide simple supports in your classroom: adapt small-group activities or encourage the skills you flagged.

• Continue positive communication: When you see improvement or effort, share it—“I noticed that Liam named two colours today—what a great step!”

• If you don’t see progress and concerns remain, it may be time to suggest a referral more strongly—but still with kindness and collaboration.

Why This Matters for Child Care Providers

• Addressing developmental concerns early helps children access services and support when it matters most.

• It strengthens trust with families, making them feel you care about the whole child, not just managing them for the day.

• It positions you as a partner in the child’s #growth—not just a supervisor—but someone invested in progress.

• It helps ensure that the environment you provide is responsive to children’s individual needs, which is a hallmark of high-quality child care.

Professional Development and Resources

If you’d like further training on communicating with families and handling developmental concerns, here are useful links:

• Training: “Let’s Talk: Effective Communication” offered by ChildCareEd.

• Resource: “Tips for Discussing Developmental Concerns” (PDF) via ChildCareEd.

• Article: “Hard Conversations with Parents” posted on ChildCareEd. 

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