---
title: "Message a parent"
description: "Start a private, two-way conversation with a family from the web dashboard."
type: guide
updated: 2026-09-06
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/owners/communication/message-a-parent
roles: ["super_admin", "center_admin", "teacher"]
platforms: [web]
---
Messages are private conversations with one family. Use them for anything specific to a single child, and expect a reply. For center-wide notices use an [announcement](/owners/communication/post-an-announcement) instead. Not sure which to use? See [Announcement, newsletter, message, or feed?](/owners/communication/choose-the-right-way-to-reach-parents).

## Send a message

1. Go to **Communication → Messages**.
2. Click **Send message**.
3. Choose the family (or staff member) you want to reach.
4. Type your message and send it.

Your existing conversations are listed on the left. Click one to continue it.

<Callout kind="info" title="Parents reply from their app">
The family gets a notification and replies from the NestliCare mobile app. Their reply lands back in this same conversation, so everything about that child stays in one thread.
</Callout>

## Who can message whom

- **Admins and teachers** can message any family and each other.
- **Teachers** typically message the families of children in their rooms.
- **Parents** can start a conversation with their child's teachers and your admins from the app.

Messages are private to the people in the conversation. They are not part of the public feed, and other families never see them.

A few programs prefer the app to be one-way, with families reaching the office by phone or email instead. You can [turn off parent messaging](/owners/communication/turn-off-parent-messaging) for your whole organization; announcements, the feed, and staff-to-staff messages keep working.