Building relationships with families strengthens our ability to work with all children in our care. Once a trusting relationship has been established, we can strengthen the partnership through continued communication and appreciation for each partner's role in caring for a child. Effectively communicating with families, verbally and non-verbally helps engage with families in an authentic, caring manner. The first step towards handling difficult situations with parents is to have already established a relationship that is built on trust. Learn about your own communication style and that of others, build strategies for communicating effectively with everyone in your program and open the doors for partnership with families.