How Famly helps strengthen parent-teacher communication in early education

When families feel connected, informed, and valued, the entire preschool community thrives. But, between managing staff, juggling enrollment, and handling endless paperwork, finding the time to communicate and building those parent-teacher relationships can feel impossible as an early education provider.

That’s where preschool parent communication app, like Famly, comes in.

Fun fact: Famly actually started as a parent communication tool before evolving into today’s all-in-one childcare management software. 

Why? Because research is clear: consistent collaboration between caregivers and educators is one of the most powerful drivers of child development.

Here’s how directors across the world (yep!) are using Famly to communicate daily in a way that doesn’t add more stress to the educators and staff, and strengthens parent relationships.

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Real-time updates

No more waiting for the end-of-the-week newsletter, or for the quick 30-second recap of their day at pick-up. There are so many ways to update parents throughout the day, which makes pick-up less stressful for staff (just a quick hello and see ya tomorrow), and parents feel a peace of mind knowing the quality of care their children received. Plus, they now have content that they can use to continue the learning, and engage with their kids, like “how was playing with the taco truck today?”

With Famly, staff can share updates through:

• Direct messaging, privately or to a group with Read receipts
• Newsfeed posts with photos, videos and text with reactions and comments

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The Famly difference with real-time updates

You might be thinking other apps for teacher–parent communication have these too. So, now I’ll tell you about what makes Famly different.

1. Uniquely interactive

Famly is uniquely interactive with comments, likes, and emojis. In other words, parents and staff have the ability to respond to each other directly on a post, so you can interact and communicate more about the learning that is happening in the photos you share from today’s activity. 

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2. Read receipts

Also, a favorite amongst our customers: Read receipts. No more guessing whether parents saw your update about the field trip coming up, or the school closure for Labor Day weekend. With Read receipts, you know exactly who saw your message, and who you may need to look out for at pick-up to give them a friendly nudge to check the newsfeed. 

Because it works like apps parents and staff already use, it’s intuitive and saves everyone valuable time.

And if that doesn’t sound simple enough, we have a tool that will make writing those messages even faster, without jeopardizing personalization and professionalism. The magic tool? Famly’s Sidekick Writing Assistant.

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3. Sidekick Writing Assistant

You’re juggling spilled milk, a crying toddler, and a message from Scott’s mom saying she’ll be late. Responding to Scott’s mom doesn’t need to add more stress at that moment. With Sidekick, you can double check your spelling, grammar and tone, so the message is kind and professional - even when you’re tempted to just send “ok.”

‍"Sidekick has been a total game-changer for us. Practitioners who were nervous of writing to parents now do so with ease and confidence. Don’t know how we survived so long without it."
Michelle, Manager @ Little Berries

But, Sidekick isn’t just for messages. You can use it for all written communication in Famly.

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4. Live Translation

In addition to having Sidekick Writing Tool as a way to make communication more accessible, we’re also really proud of our in-app live translation tool in over 130 languages. So no matter what your primary language is, or what the family’s primary language is, you can communicate directly and transparently and instantly since it happens all right in the app.

No language barriers, no translator needed. This is invaluable for parental involvement because now every parent can be a part of their child’s learning journey, growth and development, and feel a part of the community. This feature alone makes Famly stand out from other childcare parent engagement apps, ensuring every family feels part of the community.

‍"Being able to translate it into different languages means you can make sure that every multilingual child is able to have that voice. That parent has a voice.”
Mat, Deputy @ Acorns Preschool 

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5. Permissions around communication 

Not every parent wants photos shared widely. Famly makes it simple. Staff can choose who sees the posts and messages, so some posts can be sent to just the parent of a child, or to just the classroom’s parents, or to the whole community.

Speaking of permissions…

Collecting permissions 

See permissions right in the platform. Lost slips and chasing signatures? Not anymore. With Famly, parents can give digital permissions for photos, trips, and activities right in the app. Parents can update child information instantly too, so directors always have the most accurate records. 

Still missing an answer? Just shoot a direct message to that parent and you’ll have the answer instantly (or as quickly as they see their phone notification!)

Calendar

Our calendar feature is another great way to build that strong community and sense of belonging. 

Besides the practical information of school closures and upcoming holidays, you can also plan events and track RSVPs.

No more scrambling for the calendar that was passed out at the beginning of the school year, or finding a paper flyer crumpled at the bottom of a backpack. With Famly’s shared calendar, those days are gone. Parents can see every event from closures, field trips, to pajama days, all in one place (and from their phone!).

The shared calendar doesn’t just cut down on questions. It also helps families feel included in the rhythm of school life. Just one clear, digital calendar in the daycare parent communication app parents already use every day.

Flexible billing

 Famly gives directors flexible tools that meet families where they are.

• Split payments: Perfect for separated families,shared guardianship, or even those families where the grandparents like to help pay for childcare.
  
• Customizable billing plans: Discounts, subsidies, and flexible schedules built right into the system.‍
• Oh, and parent-generated tax statements. Parents can pull their own tax docs instantly, without your admin team lifting a finger! Tax season is busy enough for you as a business owner.

Unlike many other preschool parent communication apps, Famly combines admin and communication in one platform.

Health and safety: Immunization reminders, incidents and accidents

When it comes to safety, nothing reassures parents more than transparency. With Famly, staff can log accidents and incidents in real time, complete with photos and digital signatures. Parents receive the report instantly—no waiting until pick-up for surprises.

And when it comes to compliance, Famly sends immunization reminders to families automatically, so no child’s record (or health) slips through the cracks.

Parents trust you, staff stay compliant, and everyone knows children’s safety comes first.

Communication that every staff and parent will love

Staff love how easy, intuitive and efficient communication is through Famly. 

‍“[Staff] are able to just quickly open the app and mark what they need to mark. And then put it down… It's not something that's taking away from them in class, but it is being used.”
Paige, Director @ Friends in Faith

But just as equally as important? All parents love it too.

From helicopter parents, to the more easygoing, all parents will love it. Some families want every detail, some prefer big-picture updates, and they can find exactly what they prefer. The result? Parents feel heard, valued, and respected because you’re meeting them on their terms.

‍“Parents just want things easier, and this is just one of those things. I’ve had so many parents just say, ‘This has been a gamer changer. This has been wonderful.’”
Shelley, Director @ Reynolda Preschool

Famly doesn’t just connect parents and teachers. It creates community. With every message, update, permission, and report, families feel engaged, respected, and supported. And when families thrive, so does your preschool. With Famly, strengthening parent relationships isn’t another task on your list. It’s built right into the way you run your center. 

• Want to see how Famly’s childcare parent communication app can transform your center? Book a personal, free demo with my colleague. 
• Still not convinced? Read why Famlly’s parent engagement tools were the missing piece to Laetitia’s center.