---
title: "Read and reply to a parent message"
description: "Use the Messages tab to read parent messages, reply with text or a photo, and fix a message you already sent."
type: guide
updated: 2026-10-11
canonical_url: https://help.nestlicare.com/teachers/messaging/read-and-reply-to-a-parent-message
roles: ["teacher"]
platforms: [ios, android, web]
---
Most parent messages are simple ("Did Sally leave her water bottle?"). Some are urgent ("New allergy"). Try to reply within an hour or two.

This narrated video walks through all of it on the phone: reading a chat, reacting, sending a photo, replying, editing your own message, starting a new chat, and the Team Board.

<VideoEmbed
  src="phone-teacher-messages"
  title="Messages for teachers (narrated, about 2 minutes)"
  captions={false}
/>

## Open your messages

1. Open the **Messages** tab.
2. Make sure **Chats** is picked at the top. (**Team Board** next to it is for staff-only posts.)
3. Your chats are listed, newest first. A teal number on a row means messages you haven't opened.

<ScreenshotWithPointers
  src="/screenshots/teachers/messaging/messages-list.png"
  alt="Messages list in the staff app"
  pointers={[
    { x: 71.6, y: 5.6, caption: "New message. Start a chat with a parent or a coworker" },
    { x: 1, y: 17.4, caption: "Search by name or word" },
    { x: 81.1, y: 28.7, caption: "Teal number: messages you haven't opened" },
    { x: 14.7, y: 29.1, caption: "The last message, so you can see what's urgent" },
  ]}
/>

## Reply

1. Tap the chat.
2. Type in the box at the bottom. To add a photo, tap the attach button, then **Take Photo** or **Choose from Library**.
3. Tap send.

The parent gets it right away in their app, and as a push if they have notifications on.

## Edit, delete or react

Press and hold your message:

- **Edit** to fix a typo. Everyone sees the new text with an **Edited** label.
- **Delete** to remove it.
- Tap an emoji to react.

You can edit or delete only your own messages. Admins can delete any message.

## Start a new chat

1. Tap the new message button at the top right of the **Messages** tab.
2. Search or scroll. The list has **Support**, **Staff** and **Parents**. You can message any parent or coworker at your center.
3. Tap a name to start the chat.

To message several people in one chat, tap **New group message** first, pick everyone, then start.

<ScreenshotWithPointers
  src="/screenshots/teachers/messaging/new-message.png"
  alt="New Message picker with Support, Staff and Parents sections"
  pointers={[
    { x: 1, y: 15, caption: "Search contacts" },
    { x: 1, y: 32.7, caption: "Support: NestliCare Support" },
    { x: 1, y: 42.8, caption: "Staff, then Parents further down. Everyone at your center" },
    { x: 1, y: 20.7, caption: "New group message: one chat with several people" },
  ]}
/>

<Callout kind="tip" title="Keep both parents in the loop">
If a question matters to both parents, start a group chat with both. Then neither one misses your answer.
</Callout>

## Troubleshooting

**Can't find a parent.** Search by their first or last name. The list covers every family at your center. If they're still not there, they may not have accepted their invite yet. Ask your director.

**Sent, but the parent says they didn't get it.** Their notifications may be off. The message is still in their app. Ask them to open **Messages**.

**Sent something by mistake.** Press and hold it, then tap **Delete**.

**The photo didn't send.** Check your connection and send it again.