I do too! Taking that time upfront and maintaining the relationships is so worth it. I think it’s sort of like how we focus intervention on supporting the parent-child interactions/relationship. In all aspects of early intervention, it seems like working in the context of the relationship to make a long-term difference is our goal. Helping families learn to think critically will also stay with them long after we aren’t there to “provide the answers.” Thanks for joining the conversation, Lisa!

Yes! Fantastic advice! I love how you said to leave your agenda at the door. That’s pretty hard to do, to be able to think “on your feet” and follow the family’s lead but it’s absolutely necessary. As you said, the key is the relationship and building that with each family really doesn’t come prepackaged in a curriculum or lesson plan. Fortunately, coaching gives us flexible strategies to use to build that relationship while supporting the parent’s and the child’s learning. Thanks Mary!

I’m so glad that you enjoyed the coaching training, Mary! It sounds like you’re pretty familiar with coaching…do you have any advice for colleagues who are new to using coaching strategies? As you said, it can take a while to get comfortable with integrating these practices into your work and I’ve found that people are often reassured to hear that it takes time, patience, and practice to “get the hang” of it!

Thanks for adding to the list, Nancy! I hope your experience encourages others!