How to Deal with Uncooperative Parents in Your Child’s PTA
As parents, part of our duty is to meet with teachers and talk about your child’s progress. This normally goes well, with parents eager to listen and cooperative when it comes to issues and ideas to help with the child’s schooling. However, there are those parents who aren’t. These parents may come off as bullying and close-minded. They might seem defensive about their child and issues concerning their child. Suggestions that you or teachers send their way are sometimes met with unwillingness and doubt.
Parental instincts
Parents are naturally protective of their child. And, they project this protectiveness differently. While some are willing to listen to another adult’s observations and suggestions, some may take this as an encroachment into their role and responsibilities for the child. Hence, they may come off as defensive. You might feel like you are not getting through to them.
When you encounter this sort of parent, keep this in mind. When you do, dealing with them might get easier. With this understanding, you might be able to think of less direct ways to voice out your observations and make suggestions. Think of it as if you’re dealing with a child in a tantrum fit. First, you have to calm down the child. Next, you will need to reinforce the goodness and care that you see. And then, you will need to slowly slip in facts and ideas.
Keep in mind that an uncooperative parent is still a parent – he or she only has the child’s welfare in mind. You have to recognize this and recognize the authority of the parent when it comes to the child. Once you’ve imparted this, then the parent may be more willing to listen to another adult.
Reinforce and communicate
Sometimes, a parent might be put on the defensive when he or she feels like his or her parenting style is being questioned. Often, the parent becomes defensive and uncooperative. He or she might question everything that you say, however valid they are.
You can steer away from these situations by reinforcing the positive aspects of the child and how he or she is being raised. Sometimes, a parent needs to hear this first before you can lay down problematic aspects about the child.
Being a parent is no easy task. The parents in your child’s PTA may share this sentiment. Hence, some may naturally feel threatened when their rearing style comes into question. Understand this and keep it in mind when dealing with parents. Once they recognize that you only want the best for all the children, they are bound to open up and listen to you.
Photo Credit : Jose Kevo
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