5 Things Preschool Owners Can Do to Avoid Complaints from Parents

Complaints from parents are the worst. I’ve dealt with them and I’m sure you have too. 

There will always be someone who’s not happy with your services, no matter how good your preschool is. And that can put you in a difficult situation.

Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how hard you try or how good your team is, someone is going to have an issue with something related to your preschool.

And because parents are the ones keeping your business alive, it is crucial to keep them happy!

Yes, we all know complaints from parents are inevitable, but what if you could avoid them?

It might sound impossible, but it’s actually pretty easy to do as long as you follow the five tips I’m sharing below.

Tip #1: Be Organized With Clear and Concise Policies

The first step to avoiding complaints is to get your preschool organized. This means having a well thought-out plan for the day-to-day operations of your business. 

Every aspect of your preschool should be planned out in advance, from drop-off and pickup times, to activities, to mealtimes. 

Having a schedule and sticking to it will help you avoid any confusion or frustration from parents.

Tip #2: Have an Open Door Policy

The second strategy is building and nurturing relationships with the parents. This should be a daily occurrence. 

When there is an established foundation of trust, parents will be more open and understanding. 

Make sure to provide open communication on a regular basis so that if an issue ever arises, parents are comfortable talking through it with you or your team.

Tip #3: Regular Communication Is a Must

The third strategy for avoiding complaints from parents is to have regular communication with them. 

This can be in the form of a weekly or monthly newsletter, regular parent-teacher conferences, or even just a quick phone call to touch base about how their child might be doing. 

Parents should always feel like they know what's going on at the preschool and in their child's classroom. 

Tip #4: Use Positive Reinforcement 

The fourth strategy is to use positive reinforcement. This means using positive reinforcement with both children and their parents. 

When you catch someone doing something well, whether it's a teacher, a child, or a parent, be sure to let them know. This will help them feel appreciated and valued.

Tip #5: Seek Out Frequent Feedback

The fifth and final strategy for avoiding complaints from parents is to seek out frequent feedback. 

This can be done through surveys, parent-teacher conferences, or simply by asking parents how they're doing on a regular basis. 

It's important to get feedback from parents so that you can identify any areas of concern and address them quickly. 

I discuss all of this in more depth in the episode above, so make sure to give it a listen!

---

Resources