Monitoring Children's Development

The early years of child’s life are crucial for social, cognitive and emotional development. Thus, monitoring children’s progress at the very early stage of their development can be a very effective way to identify their needs, inadequacies, strengths, and capabilities. As a teacher, you can recognize children’s need for further assistance and the series of challenges they are facing by checking their progress. In hoping that they attain success and confidence, as well as the enough experience to go on with their lives, precise and patient child care is needed while children are progressing.

Some ways by which children’s progress can be examined are through observing them daily; watching them play, participate in different activities, and how they communicate. You can also collect samples of their paintings, writings, and drawings. Keeping notes of the words they say could also be an effective way to keep track of their progress. You can also hone their communication skills through encouraging them to speak and express themselves. For the parents and caregivers to know the overall progress of their children, it is also important to inform them about the children’s strengths and weaknesses, and everything that needs immediate concern.

It is also vital when talking with the children to always mention their strengths, the things they are capable of, and the advancement they have completed, for them to develop high motivation and self-confidence.

Communication between parents and caregivers

To further succeed in strengthening and supporting the children’s success in school, it is important that as a teacher, you and the children’s parents and caregivers have a good communication. Good communication is important because as parents and caregivers, they have to understand the way you are helping their children to get future school success. They should also be aware of their children’s progress in learning. By knowing their children’s abilities and deficiencies as well as the experiences they have while in school, they can learn appropriate ways how they can help their children at home. In so doing, with the attention and care they are receiving from their parents and caregivers, children will tend to feel much appreciated and loved, and more motivated to learn.

Communicating with parents and caregivers should not be a hard task. You can simply talk to them whenever they deliver or pick up their children, or if it is not possible, just send them letters, notes or e-mails informing them of their children’s progress. You can also conduct regular parents’ meetings where exchange of ideas could help in determining the strengths of the children and the areas in which they need more concern.

While communicating with the children’s parents and caregivers, remember that you have to encourage them to regularly talk to their children, help their children name different objects around them, read them stories, narrate them different experiences and ideas that seem important to them, and let them open up their creative skills through giving them opportunities to draw and ¬
paint using colored pens, crayons, and pencils. You can also invite parents and caregivers to visit your classroom and share ideas with them about the activities in school that their children can continue doing at home.

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