How
do you involve parents in your family childcare
home? Parents who bring their child to someone else
to care for them for the first time have many concerns
and questions. They are concerned most about their
child's safety and ability to succeed in the new
environment. Parents "check out" the center
to try to get a feel for how they can contribute
to the best outcome for their child. Parents often
appreciate knowing ways in which they can participate
in their child's care.
Results
when family childcare homes and parents work together
include:
Parents
are better able to understand and support what
the home is doing.
Staff
are better able to understand the needs and concerns
of parents.
Children's
self-esteem improves.
Programs
are adjusted to meet the needs of children more
fully.
Parent–child
relationships improve.
Neighbors,
who otherwise might not meet, begin relationships,
and the community is strengthened.
Children
believe that their "work" is important
to their parents and other adults.
One
long-term effect on children is that they receive
higher grades and scores in school later on.
How
can parents be involved?
Reading.
Nothing promotes brain development and language
skill like spending time with children reading
age-appropriate books.
Take
children on field trips. If given enough notice,
many parents can take off work to help chaperone
a field trip. This provides a relaxed atmosphere
for staff and parents to visit and for the parents
to see their child in the group.
Demonstrate
a skill or talent. Some parents may have a hobby,
such as bird watching or gardening, that they
could talk to the children about. Other parents
may have exciting occupations, such as fireman
or policeman, in which the children would be interested.
The learning activities will be new each year,
dependent upon parents' skills and talents.
How
can you help the parents?
Provide
age-level parent fact sheets. The state departments
of health and your county Extension office offer
free materials on numerous parenting topics. It
is extremely important for parents and caregivers
to know what behaviors to expect at certain ages
in a child's growth and development. Parents who
have realistic expectations of their baby's growth
and development are less apt to practice unsafe
behaviors with their baby.
Teach
parenting skills. Serve refreshments, and let
the parents come in for a brief parenting and
sharing class.
Video
Recommendations:
I Am Your Child: The First Years Last Forever.
Outlines the importance of early parental attachment
for enhanced infant brain development. $5.00 at
www.iamyourchild.org.
Never Shake a Baby: What Parents and Caregivers
Need to Know. Includes vignettes from parents
who have been exasperated with their baby's crying.
(613) 233-1900 or www.shakenbaby.ottawakiwanis.org.
References:
Davis,
D. (2001). "Supporting Parent, Family, and
Community Involvement in Your School." National
Parent Information Network.
Parent
Involvement Manual: Texas PTA under contract with
Texas Education Agency (Parent Involvement and Community
Empowerment Initiative).
Dr.
Dorothy James is an Assistant Professor and Family
Life Specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension.
She directs a statewide effort to strengthen parenting
skills and reduce child abuse.
"Reprinted
with permission from the National Network for Child
Care - NNCC - James, D. Ph.D.,
CFCS.
Family
Child Care Connections, Volume 11, Issue 2.
College Station, TX: National Network for Child
Care at Texas A&M University."
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