When a parent is involved in what their child does at school, it improves a teacher performance and makes their job a lot easier. Establishing partnerships with parents is an important step for educators in offering the best possible learning experiences and opportunities within their preschool. —These ideas from a presentation by John H. Wherry, Ed.D., President, The Parent Institute, Your email address will not be published. Most parents do want to be engaged in their preschooler’s learning and development, however they aren’t sure how to get involved. Parent involvement is so much more than this. If they start giving their time at this young age, parents can start to see the benefits described above. Maybe you need help during an outing, or during the evening pick-up hour. Since 2012, HiMama has empowered early childhood educators with tools to improve learning outcomes for children and better connect with parents. Required fields are marked *. Download HiMama childcare app! Studies show that when parents are actively involved with their child’s early childhood education, they are more likely to stay involved when their child enters elementary school. Make parent volunteers feel like part of the team by assigning specific duties to them where possible. Your email address will not be published. Want To Increase Parent Involvement by 57%? Download our free ebook! variety of outcomes for children and help set them on the path to school success You should also try to learn more about each parent by inviting them to complete a short questionnaire when their child enrols. Parent involvement activities in your preschool don’t have to be all educational or entertaining – they can be practical as well. Download HiMama childcare app! One of the most difficult challenges for early childhood educators is figuring out how to better engage parents in their child’s learning. Parental and family involvement in early childhood education will help improve learning outcomes for children by ensuring that they have all the support they need to succeed. extend the experiences that a child has in the classroom to real-world activities that happen in the home Getting Started. We need parents to send nutritious meals, stop ripping toys out of children’s hands at the door and leaving us with them crying, not pulling up to school with children on electronics, nurturing their emotional needs at home so that their child is ready to learn and has a full bucket at drop off! These resources can offer additional guidance that parents can use at home to cultivate further skills and talents in their children. Get our weekly newsletter for all things early childhood education. She has been working for over 3 years in the early childhood education space, and feels incredibly fortunate to have met, interviewed, and worked closely with registered early childhood educators, thought leaders and researchers during that time. By establishing good lines of communication between your child care center and parents, as well as making a strong effort to involve parents as an important partner in their child’s education, you can make a positive impact on their learning ability. To get the true benefits from early childhood education, however, parents need to consider how they can support what their children are learning throughout the day. afternoons) for parents and students getting ready to go to a new school help answer questions, relieve anxieties, build involvement and support. Parent involvement helps extend teaching outside the classroom, creates a more positive experience for children and helps children perform better when they are in school. Find Out Why We're Rated Best Childcare Software in the Market. Getting parents involved in your preschool classroom doesn’t have to be difficult. CDC Parents for Healthy Schools Framework. By taking an active role in the early childhood education process, parents can help ensure that their child has all the support they need to develop to their full potential. Once they are aware that they can have a say in what is taught in the classroom, parents may want to help shape what their child learns throughout the day. Invite them to share information about their career, and bring items they use on the job to show the class. Find Out Why We're Rated Best Childcare Software in the Market. She is particularly interested in finding novel ways for child care centers to market themselves and bolster their enrollment. There are endless possibilities when it comes to these types of parent involvement activities, and preschoolers love giving their attention to a brand new face in the classroom! Or, have them lead an activity that relates to one of their unique interests or talents. After a parent visits or volunteers at your child care center, write a thank you note to let them know you appreciate their time and assistance. She loves cats, and always needs at least one toy on her desk to fidget with! This connection is a key component of a child’s development and supporting further learning. Today’s parents are more involved than they’ve ever been with their children’s development. Parents who are in tune with what is happening in their child’s preschool classroom or child care facility are better able to establish a connection between what is learned at school and what takes place in the home. Get our weekly newsletter for all things early childhood education. 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