Partnering with Families When Developmental Concerns Arise

A Compassionate Guide for Early Childhood Educators

As early childhood educators, we play a critical role in recognizing developmental differences and fostering supportive partnerships with families. When a developmental concern arises, approaching the conversation with empathy, collaboration, and respect can make all the difference.

Recognizing Developmental Differences in an Inclusive Classroom

Children develop at their own pace, but when a child shows signs of a developmental delay or disability, early intervention is crucial. Research indicates that early support leads to better long-term outcomes.
Inclusive early childhood settings benefit all children by fostering diverse learning experiences, social-emotional growth, and a sense of belonging. When discussing developmental concerns with families, it’s important to reinforce that inclusion means supporting each child’s unique learning journey rather than highlighting deficits.

Building Trust with Families: Setting the Stage for Partnership

Talking with families about a potential developmental concern can feel daunting. However, when approached with care and collaboration, these conversations can deepen your relationship with the families you serve. Here’s how to build trust:
  • Start with strengths: Every child has unique gifts. Share positive observations about the child’s skills, personality, and progress.
  • Share observations: Describe what you see in the classroom. For example, “I’ve noticed that Jake sometimes struggles to follow directions, and I’d love to work together on strategies to support him.”
  • Acknowledge parents as experts: Families know their children best. Invite them to share their insights and experiences.
  • Create an open, ongoing dialogue: This is not a one-time conversation but part of an ongoing collaboration and partnership. Offer to check in regularly and share updates.
  • Provide resources, not just concerns: Help families access information and support, such as early intervention services. Remember, it’s the family’s choice whether to have their child evaluated or accept a referral for services. Your job as an educator is to build a trusting relationship with the family, inform them about resources that could be beneficial, and then allow families the autonomy to make their own decisions for their child.

Navigating Tough Conversations with Empathy and Respect

Discussing developmental concerns can be emotional for families. Some parents may feel relieved to have their concerns validated, while others may react with surprise or worry. Your role is to provide support, not a diagnosis or label. Here is a sample script that can help keep the conversation supportive:

  • “I love seeing how [child’s name] enjoys [activity]. I have also noticed [specific observation], and I wanted to check in with you about what you see at home.”

By keeping the focus on the child’s strengths and asking parents to share their input, we can make these conversations feel less overwhelming and more collaborative.

Providing Families with Tools and Next Steps

Families may not know where to start if they have concerns about their child’s development. As educators, we can point them toward helpful resources and support systems. Consider sharing:
  • Developmental screening results. If your program conducts routine developmental screenings, such as the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) or other standardized tools, share the results with families in a supportive way. Explain that these screenings help track a child’s progress and identify areas where additional support may be beneficial. Encourage parents to use the results as a guide for follow-up with pediatricians or early intervention services.
  • CDC developmental milestone checklists are free resources that can help families recognize the milestones their child should be reaching at different ages, and guide them about what to do if they ever become concerned about their child’s development (CDC’s Milestone Tracker).
  • Local early intervention programs (Many states have free services for children under age three.) Reassure families that seeking support is a step toward ensuring their child gets what they need to thrive. Many parents feel overwhelmed when they first hear about a developmental concern, and they may experience a range of emotions, from worry to denial to relief. As educators, we can offer a steady and supportive presence, helping them navigate this journey at their own pace.
  • Inclusive classroom strategies that they can also try at home, such as visual schedules, sensory supports, and children’s books that support social-emotional learning.
Encourage families to take small steps, whether it’s talking to their child’s pediatrician, or trying new strategies at home. Sometimes just knowing they’re not alone, and that their child’s teacher is on their side, can make a world of difference.

Build Stronger Family Partnerships with IMPACT’s Back to School Bundle

When developmental concerns arise, having strong, trusting relationships with families makes all the difference. The start of the school year is the perfect time to lay that foundation and to set up classroom systems that support every child’s success. To help you start the year with confidence, IMPACT created the Back to School Bundle, available now for 30% off. This limited-time bundle brings together two of our most practical and popular eLearning courses:

  1. Partnering with Families: Strategies for Successful Communication
  2. Visual Supports for Young Children


Together, these courses give you the tools to build supportive relationships with families and create an inclusive, well-organized classroom environment.

In the Partnering with Families course, you’ll learn how to:

  • Build trust with families from day one
  • Navigate sensitive topics, including developmental concerns and challenging behaviors
  • Use planning tools, templates, and conversation guides to make family meetings and ongoing communication easier and more effective

And in the Visual Supports course, you’ll get:

  • Practical ways to introduce visuals so children actually use them
  • Strategies to weave visuals naturally into your daily routines
  • Step-by-step guidance on using visuals to support emotional regulation
  • A library of 100+ ready-to-use printable visuals—schedules, choice boards, first/then visuals, and more—to save you planning time
With these strategies and resources, you’ll be ready to create a collaborative, supportive classroom community where every child and every family feels seen, valued, and included.
Start the school year strong! Get the Back to School Bundle now and save 30% [Grab the Bundle Here]
Building strong partnerships with families takes time and intentional effort, but it’s one of the most powerful ways we can support young children. When families and educators work as a team, even challenging conversations about developmental concerns can become opportunities for connection, understanding, and support. And when families know they’re not alone, and that you’re in their corner, they’re more equipped to navigate challenges and celebrate milestones along the way.

- The IMPACT Team

Note: Course links and offers mentioned in this post may have changed since publication. To see what’s currently available, visit our course library.

If you're interested in learning more about supporting children with ADHD, Autism, or sensory regulation, check out these courses:

IMPACT™ content is developed by a multidisciplinary team and makes every effort to ensure that information provided reflect evidence-based, early childhood best practices. Providers should always follow local jurisdictions and other governing bodies rules and regulations when implementing any strategy or suggestion. Any actions, or lack of actions, are not the responsibility or liability of Northwest Center Kids – IMPACT™.

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