PARENT INVOLVEMENT

The Why and How

WHERE DO I BEGIN?

Ask yourself these questions:1. What do I do everyday to involve parents in their

child’s learning experience?2. In what ways are parents already contributing to

my program?3. What do the parents see as their needs and

interests?4. Who are the parents I never hear from?5. Who are the children I feel need extra help

adjusting to the child care program?6. How can parents help me?7. Where can I find additional resources to support

my parent involvement activities?

WHAT ACTIVITIES ALREADY EXIST? Daily Informal Activities that Involve

Parents* chats at drop off and pick up* daily sheets

Ways In Which I Support Parents* monthly newsletters* parent bulletin boards

Ways In Which Parents Support Me* providing activities for the classroom parties

GET TO KNOW YOUR PARENTS Use Parent Profiles/ Questionnaires Make Home Visits Visit work location (if possible)

ASSESS PARENTS INTERESTS Find out their hobbies Ask how they would like to help Parent Availability Special talents they have Limitations

THE FIRST

MEETING

MANAGING THE FIRST MEETING

1. Be honest and nonjudgmental let them know they are important to the success of the program and their child’s learning

2. Be an active listener3. Offer clear descriptions and

expectations4. Clarify any preconceived notions or

assumptions5. Be considerate

PRACTICE:

You have read and discussed the value of parent involvement. There has been information presented about how to involve parents in their child’s learning.

Your time to practice has now arrived. On the following slides are two problems that are often an issue in any child care setting. You will choose one of the problems and prepare a parent meeting to discuss one of the issues.

Please include all of the information that is necessary for a successful parent teacher exchange.

Good Luck.

PROBLEM 1:

Problem 2:You are the lead teacher in the toddler room (12 months to 18 months). One of the children is having some trouble adjusting to solid foods and family style eating.The parent approaches you and wants to bring in their own food (jarred baby food) and wants you to feed their 14 month old child.As you meet with these parents you will need to provide developmentally age appropriate food information, the reasoning as to why this is/isn’t possible and action steps to help the child adjust to the new textures and family style serving.

In your classroom you have a young child that has bitten several times. Several different parents have approached you with concerns. Now a parent has asked that you remove the child from the classroom and the center.At your parent meeting you will discuss this issue and present parents with developmentally appropriate information, discussion time, and action steps for the classroom.

You will need to submit your action plan, written documentation of

resource material provided for the parents and your action steps for solving one of these problems.