Does your child know where to go when they need help at school? This tool can help.

As parents, our top priority is our children’s safety and well-being. Ensuring they feel secure and supported at school is a crucial part of this. But what happens when challenges arise? Knowing who to turn to for help can make all the difference. This is where Relationship Mapping comes in.

A Relationship Map is a visual tool that helps children identify the adults at school who can offer support and guidance. By creating this map together, you're empowering your child to feel confident and prepared to tackle any challenges that may come their way.

The power of Relationship Mapping

Through our Relationship Mapping and Mental Health Initiative, Making Caring Common has worked with hundreds of schools to promote positive youth mental health by ensuring that all students are connected to at least one caring adult in their school.

At home, parents and caregivers can use the same concept to help students identify school adults to approach if they need support. This simple practice can have several benefits:

Increased sense of security: When children know who to turn to for help, they feel more secure and confident in their school environment.
Enhanced communication: The process of creating a Relationship Map together can open up communication between parents and children about school experiences and potential challenges.
Stronger school-home connection: Relationship Mapping can help parents feel more connected to their child's school by providing them with a better understanding of the adults at school who know their children best.

“A Relationship Map is a visual tool that helps children identify the adults at school who can offer support and guidance. By creating this map together, you’re empowering your child to feel confident and prepared to tackle any challenges that may come their way.”

How to use Relationship Mapping at home

Gather materials: You'll need paper, markers, crayons, or colored pencils.
Brainstorm school adults: Make a list of the adults your child interacts with at school, including teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff.
Categorize for support: Discuss the type of support each adult can provide. For example, some are great for academic help, while others excel in emotional support.
Create the map: Draw a large circle for your child in the center. Add smaller circles for each adult, connecting them to the center with lines labeled by the type of support offered.
Discuss approaches: Talk about how to approach different adults for different needs. Emphasize that it's okay to seek help and that there's no shame in asking for support.

For younger children, make the map a fun and creative activity. Use pictures and simple labels to represent each adult.

For older children, focus on identifying key support figures and discussing effective communication strategies. Does their teacher or coach have office hours? Is email a better option? Even a quick discussion of these questions can help your child know what to do when challenges arise.

Tips for success

Have regular check-ins: Review the map periodically to add new adults or discuss changing relationships.

Role-play scenarios: Practice different situations where your child might need help to boost their confidence.
Address potential challenges: If your child struggles to identify supportive adults, encourage them to think about teachers or staff who make them feel comfortable and listened to. If your child still finds this difficult, reach out to their teacher, school counselor, or principal for support.

By investing time in creating a Relationship Map, you're equipping your child with essential tools for success. It's a simple yet powerful way to build a strong support network to help your child grow, learn, and thrive.

Posted by Alison Cashin, Director of Communications