How To Engage Families Virtually (6 Strategies You Can Try!)
Connecting with families has always been one of my favorite parts of counseling.
I love getting to stop parents in the hallway and tell them about all of the growth their child is making or being able to offer tissues to a crying family as I assure them that we will work together to help their child. I have always been thankful for the privilege of being able to come alongside families to support their students.
But with health and safety protocols, these personal interactions with families have become much more difficult.
So, where does that leave us? How can we stay connected with families during a time when they need it most?
These 6 strategies for connecting with families during distance learning will help you continue to offer support, even when you can’t see them in person.
Does It Really Matter?
School counselors are BUSY. So busy. Before you add anything else to your plate, you might be asking yourself if it really makes a difference.
And this, my friend, does.
I’m a firm believer that kids don’t exist in a vacuum. Their interactions with their peers, teachers, families and society as a whole, form kids into who they are. As a counselor in a school, connecting with families is a crucial part of supporting the whole child.
This is even more important now that we are in a time of distance learning.
Life during a global pandemic is challenging for families. Parents and caretakers are suddenly with their children full-time while continuing to handle work responsibilities, and deal with their own struggles related to the pandemic. Students are looking to their overwhelmed families for support with schoolwork, anxiety and more.
Many families are really struggling. Even though our ability to work directly with students might be limited, the families in our school communities need us now more than ever.
Here are some practical ways to continue connecting with and supporting the families at your school during distance learning:
1) Make Sure They Know You Exist
Anxiety is at an all time high for so many people right now, including children.
Students who may have never struggled with anxiety might now find themselves plagued with worry. Maybe some parents don’t normally get much time with their children because of their work schedule, but now that they are home more, they are seeing some social-emotional concerns.
Everyone is existing in a new context right now. Families who have never been interested in talking to you before might suddenly find themselves with questions, or looking for support.
We are all in new territory right now, so make sure families have your contact information and are aware of your role.
This information can be sent in an e-mail, you can ask teachers to add it to whichever learning platforms they are using, or even ask your school to give parents the information through an all-call. Make sure families know who you are and what you do, even if they have never before used your services.
2) Get On The Same Page As Teachers - Literally!
Involving parents in their child’s education is crucial. However, we also need to be mindful of how we communicate with parents online.
When parents are working with multiple teachers who are all using different communication methods or learning platforms, it can be overwhelming and confusing. I have had parents tell me that they have received upwards of 20 messages a day coming from different teachers.
As a school counselor, it can be helpful to make things easier for the parents by collaborating with the teachers. Find out what they’re doing to communicate with families, and try to do the same. Add any resources you have to the learning platform the students are already using, or ask the teachers to include your information at the bottom of the e-mails they send.
This will allow families to access all of the information in one place. The easier it is for families to access the information you provide, the more likely they will be to look at it.
3) Use Snail Mail
I love getting mail. Opening the mailbox and seeing a letter specifically addressed to you, and isn’t junk mail or a bill gives me such a special feeling.
Remember that connecting with families during distance learning doesn’t HAVE to be digital - snail mail works great!
Sending a letter home to families can go a long way, because it tells them you’re willing to put in a little extra work to show you care. It’s also a fun surprise, and who doesn’t love that?
Use letters to:
Check in with families
Remind them of your contact information
Make sure they’re aware of community resources
Include ideas they can use to promote SEL at home
Can’t make the time for this strategy? Don’t worry! I’ve already done the work for you. In my character education parent letters, families will learn about ways to read about, talk about and practice different character traits. Plus, they’re editable so you can change them to meet your needs!
4) Give Families And Students A Ring
Although there’s a vast discrepancy in the technology available to students and families, most families can be contacted by phone.
Calling to check in every few weeks can be a meaningful way to remind parents that you’re there to support them and you care about how they’re doing.
These phone calls don’t have to be complicated. You can simply ask them what’s going well and if there’s anything you can do to support them.
Sound overwhelming? Remember that you can start small! Set a goal to call two families of students who you work closely with. You don’t have to call every family in the school to make a difference. Connecting with a few families via phone is better than none, so give yourself some grace!
5) Host A Workshop
If you’re a school counselor looking to connect with families in a more interactive way, consider hosting a virtual parent workshop.
These can be done over a video chat service like Zoom or Google Meet. You can choose a topic to talk about with families, and then offer time to answer questions they may have. Popular topics include: Anxiety, behavior, self-esteem, managing distance learning expectations, etc. If you aren’t sure which topics your families would benefit from, add a poll to your school’s Facebook or Twitter page!
You can also pre-record videos on certain topics for families at your school who don’t have the resources or ability to attend a live event like this. These videos could then be posted on whatever platform their children use.
Not sure where to start? I have put together materials for 10 “Coffee With The Counselor” workshops that can be used in-person and virtually! Each of the 10 topics include a brief PowerPoint presentation, a complete script for a 10-15 minute presentation, a handout, and an image you can use to promote your even on social media!
6) Make Things Optional
Although we know how important it is for students to have strong social-emotional skills, consider making your assignments optional during this time.
Having activities and resources available, but not making them mandatory, can help you support families who are overwhelmed. That way, families have the option to access resources or activities if and when they need them, but don’t have another thing to worry about.
This can be so helpful to families who are overwhelmed by the demands of distance learning.
The most important thing to remember in all of this is to give students, families and even yourself, grace. We’re all navigating a new situation. If no parents respond to your e-mail, it doesn’t mean they don’t care. If you don’t have time to create perfectly handcrafted cards for each student, it doesn’t mean you are a bad counselor.
Keep doing what you’re doing. You are making a difference, and hopefully one day soon you’ll be able to offer a box of tissues to a crying parent once more.
