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(Unit 4) Topic 3: Family and Community Partnerships

3 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

Family Engagement

​Topic 3 Page 6

Family engagement has different meanings for different people. In many cases, it relates to an ongoing partnership between you and families.  One of the hallmarks of a successful early childhood program is a welcome, open attitude toward parents. In such programs, staff work actively to build strong relationships with parents. Staff solicit input from parents and are sensitive to family values when developing their curriculum. Above all, they approach the task as a partnership that ultimately best benefits the child.

Parents can choose to become involved at different levels with the early childhood program.

At minimum, parents simply receive information. Newsletters, notes, and messages on a bulletin board keep parents minimally involved and knowledgeable about the activities of their children. However, this is a one-way mechanism; it does not allow for feedback from parents to staff. At a higher level, parents can be valued as providers of information. They may provide insights about their child to staff, outline goals, or suggest ways to handle problems that may arise. All of their input, however, revolves around their child.

Additional program involvement would welcome parents as learners. They may attend seminars sponsored by the early childhood program or read literature generated by the program. These sources contain information needed by the parents, for example, child guidance techniques, growth and development milestones, or community resources.

At an even higher level still, parents are seen as teachers. They may choose to teach their own children at home, extending any lessons learned during the day, or may actually visit the early childhood setting and work with their child. They also may help other children learn, for example, by sharing a hobby.

To help make sure that families are committed to their child’s learning and engaged in the early childhood program, families should be invited to participate at whatever level they feel most comfortable. It is important for families to feel supported and recognized for the ways in which they are able and choose to participate and engage—from bringing their child to the program each day to sharing their concerns or serving on committees. 

(Unit 4) Topic 3: Family and Community Partnerships * Navigation Menu