This is the Maryland Week of the Working Parent, a few days set aside to recognize the role of parents in the state's work force and to help employers find practical approaches to work and family issues that affect their employees.

It's also a time to offer those parents a helping hand by sharing these Tips for Working Parents, developed by The Maryland Committee for Children, which is sponsoring the week. Today's tips address communication with care-givers.

Parents need to have a good relationship with their child's care-giver or teacher. Consider him or her a partner in your child's development. Here are some ideas for doing so:

* Take the lead in beginning conversations and sharing information. Ask questions and raise issues when they develop.

* Keep the care-giver or teacher informed about changes or unusual happenings in your child's life: family illness, sleep problems, divorce, for instance.

* Work to solve problems by planning solutions that can be used at home and at school or day care. Let your child know you are a team.

* Not even your child is perfect. Expect to hear -- and share -- negative as well as positive comments.

* The key to communicating with a care-giver or teacher is to form a partnership that helps your child.

8, Tomorrow: Tips on nurturing self-esteem.