- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
School-Aged Children
Parent Teacher Conferences:
Do you bring your child to the P/T conferences?
I never went as a kid, so last year I went to the conference without my kids, and the teacher said "oh, where is T? I thought you'd bring her!"
I didn't know people bring the child to the conferences....they aren't called parent/teacher/child conferences.....
This year there was a note that said "you may bring your child if you want."
Soooo--is this just because they would rather the parent come and not worry or skip because they can't find child care?
Or do you think they REALLY want them there?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Parent Teacher Conferences:
Our school does not encourage kids to come to the first conference (but if the kids do come, it isn't that big of a deal). But the second conference is a "student-led" conference. The kids walk mom and dad through a series of stations for half an hour or so before the meeting with the teacher.
If you bring your child to our conferences they have to wait in the hall while you meet with the teacher.
Yup - that's the policy in our district too
The same for us. It's annoying though because I have to get a sitter in the middle of the day and my sitter is a college student. We skipped this year anyway, because DH was out of town and I was sick. We get progress reports at the same time, so I know what's going on I think.
Our school asks that we NOT bring the kids to P-T conferences... they also ask not to bring them to Back-To-School/Meet-The-Teacher night, but a lot of parents do, anyway.
Me? I'm a rule-follower.
Me too, thats why I would like a "kids required" or "No kids allowed"...not a wishy, washy "kids optional" sorta thing...do they REALLY want them there or not.......
As parent who is also a teacher, I think it's inappropriate for kids to be at the conference. Regardless of what side of the table I'm sitting on -- parent or teacher -- I want to talk candidly about the child's strengths and weaknesses. That being said, when I've come in for my own DD's conferences over the years, kids have been sitting in the hallway outside the classroom, waiting for their parents to finish up. So your child's school may have gotten requests from parents that it's difficult to find babysitting for their elementary school aged kids, and the school might have given in to this.
If the teachers WANT the child to be present at the conferences, it should be stated in clearer way than "you may bring your child if you want."
Our conferences at my daughter's school have always been "student-led", so her being there is required. Obviously depends on the school but I would think they should let you know either way. I guess email the teacher or call the office to clarify.
Kiwi Fruit, 10.2.06 & Ellie Bug, 4.5.09
My blog: Bear With Us
Ideas on Teaching Your Toddler/Preschooler at Home