Supporting Parents
Authors: Lynette C. Magaña with Judith A. Myers-Walls, Ph.D., CFLE 

Your job is to take care of children, but you might be able to help the parents, too. You cannot give therapy, but you can give support. You cannot teach them everything they need to know about time management or finances, but you might be able to help them get information about those things. Parents who can handle time, money, and emotions well will do a better job taking care of children. That will make your job easier, too.

The first step is to understand issues that parents and families face. The articles in this section will give you some of that information. We also will give you ideas about supporting parents and families in difficult life situations. As a childcare provider, you see only a part of each family’s life. Providers need to respect the family’s privacy. But caring for their child is a very private thing, too. You can care for the children and support the parents.

Divorce
    • Children's reactions to divorce -- ages and stages
      How children experience divorce
     • Stages of adjustment to divorce
     • The effect of divorce on children: What makes a difference
     • Explaining divorce to children
       Helping children cope with divorce
     • Providers talking with parents about divorce
       Working with providers during divorce
     • Visitation do's and don'ts
     • Does the child need counseling?
     • Resources
       Children and divorce: Internet resources for parents

Protecting Children from Child Abuse
     • Communicating with parents about parenting quality
         Talking to providers when they have concerns about parenting
         Talking to providers about child care quality
             • Recognizing child abuse
             • Helping parents and children in difficult situations
             • Talking to a child who has been abused
             • Talking to parents about child abuse