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Pernille Schmidt Ripp, brand writer at Famly, explains why she thinks community building starts in the news feed.
Ask any early educator and they can tell you exactly how vital strong communication is for creating a thriving provision. After all, nearly 80% of our time is spent engaging in some form of communication. Whether verbal or not, how we communicate with our families directly impacts whether or not they trust the decisions we are making when it comes to caring for and educating their children.
For families where a common language is not shared with their child’s provision, feeling included and building trust can be harder to achieve. But we know that when caring for someone’s child successfully, two of our most important ingredients are trust and strong relationships.
The number of languages spoken in the UK is staggering. More than 300 languages are spoken in London alone and, across the country, it’s estimated that one in 10 people speaks a language other than English. This makes communication a significant challenge, as parents may not feel comfortable communicating in English and professionals may struggle to understand what is being said. This can lead to feelings of disinterest, inadequacy, or even exclusion – the opposite of what we want families to feel!
So how often do we consider how language barriers stop some families from feeling fully welcome? Small conversations often get lost in translation, yet it is these everyday conversations that often have a large impact on a child’s and family’s sense of belonging.
The many ways we communicate
The power of small everyday messages cannot be understated when thinking of your early years provision. How we invite parents to partner with us through our updates, picture captions, and invites speaks volumes about the relationship we would like to build.
Noticing the factors that perhaps stop us from deepening our interactions can be the spark for change. In fact, the first step toward change is a simple acknowledgment that there more than likely is room for improvement.
Here are a few things to consider:
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Who can read and fully understand the announcements we post?
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Do we tend to speak less to those where English is not their first language when parents visit our settings?
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Are our news feed messages briefer without the rich details we might offer to those we know speak our language?
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Do we consider bringing in interpreters when there are events for families as a way to signal that truly everyone is welcome?
How technology can help
Modern technology has made it possible for us to communicate more effectively, regardless of the language we speak. That’s exactly why at Famly we’ve built and launched our new live translation tool.
With this tool, families can choose their preferred language and then instantly translate any messages, news feed posts, or observations. Since communication is a two-way street, they can also reply in their chosen language and the nursery staff can translate it into their chosen language.
Removing the need for an interpreter or the limits on how detailed a message can be, can be a powerful tool of inclusion. Knowing that you have help from technology to communicate accurately and well can offer peace of mind when working with multilingual families.
Offering instant translation for everyday interactions may not seem like much. But to those where communication has felt limited, it can mean the difference between families feeling supported by the staff and setting or looking elsewhere.
How are you building relationships with your multilingual families in your setting? We’d love to hear your ideas: send an email to me at ptr@famly.co.uk.
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