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Two-way communication between caregivers and parents creates an environment that welcomes families. The caregiver-parent relationship is vital. Parents need caregivers for reassurance and emotional support.
Caregivers need to learn from family members to create an environment that reflects the children’s home experience. To do this they need to learn the parenting beliefs and culture of the family. This can only occur by building partnerships between child care providers and parents.
Parent involvement refers to patterns of participation in education programs by parents. There is no one model of parent-program interaction. Parent involvement activities may include assisting in the classroom, helping with fund-raising activities, home teaching, supplying classroom resources, and attending parent education classes. Parent involvement can be the key factor in the success of a program.
The relationship between parents and child care professionals needs to be one of mutual support and learning. Often, teachers are surprised to learn that parents want unhurried time to experience relating with them. Parents want to learn more about their children’s experiences, interests, and development. They may also want advice on how to work with their children at home. To provide this support, caregivers and parents need to become partners in teaching young children.
As a child care professional, you will need to build positive relationships with parents. To do this, set aside time to communicate with parents, particularly at the beginning or end of the day. During the conversation, share your observations and knowledge of early development behaviors. Parents also enjoy learning of their children’s preferences and ways of responding to people and things. Communicate a child’s strengths to the parents. Parents will then be more accepting when you have to share a child’s weaknesses.
Always welcome parents to the center. Whenever possible, include them in the program functions. Parents may be observers, resource people, volunteers, or guests at special celebrations. They can share a hobby or interest, as well as ethnic traditions. Studies show that caregivers who are confident of their skills and abilities are more inclined to include parents in program functions. Likewise, studies show that good relationships with parents affect a teacher’s feelings of self-esteem and competence as a teacher.
Caregivers need to learn from family members to create an environment that reflects the children’s home experience. To do this they need to learn the parenting beliefs and culture of the family. This can only occur by building partnerships between child care providers and parents.
Parent involvement refers to patterns of participation in education programs by parents. There is no one model of parent-program interaction. Parent involvement activities may include assisting in the classroom, helping with fund-raising activities, home teaching, supplying classroom resources, and attending parent education classes. Parent involvement can be the key factor in the success of a program.
The relationship between parents and child care professionals needs to be one of mutual support and learning. Often, teachers are surprised to learn that parents want unhurried time to experience relating with them. Parents want to learn more about their children’s experiences, interests, and development. They may also want advice on how to work with their children at home. To provide this support, caregivers and parents need to become partners in teaching young children.
As a child care professional, you will need to build positive relationships with parents. To do this, set aside time to communicate with parents, particularly at the beginning or end of the day. During the conversation, share your observations and knowledge of early development behaviors. Parents also enjoy learning of their children’s preferences and ways of responding to people and things. Communicate a child’s strengths to the parents. Parents will then be more accepting when you have to share a child’s weaknesses.
Always welcome parents to the center. Whenever possible, include them in the program functions. Parents may be observers, resource people, volunteers, or guests at special celebrations. They can share a hobby or interest, as well as ethnic traditions. Studies show that caregivers who are confident of their skills and abilities are more inclined to include parents in program functions. Likewise, studies show that good relationships with parents affect a teacher’s feelings of self-esteem and competence as a teacher.
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