Importance of Caregiver Involvement in Education
In this PD, you will…
Recognize family-centered practice as a key element of early childhood education.
Learn strategies for collaborating with families to boost family engagement around literacy.
Numerous studies on family engagement in education suggest that when schools partner with families and respond to their concerns, children’s achievement improves. Regardless of socioeconomic level or household structure, when caregivers are engaged in children’s learning at home, children are more likely to succeed.
“At the heart of family-centered practice is the belief that families are the most important decision-makers in a child’s life. Therefore professionals must respect, support, and enhance the strength and unique characteristics of each family.”
(Sandall, Hemmeter, Smith & McLean, 2005)
A strong caregiver-teacher relationship provides a foundation for a stable and supportive environment for young children. The strength of this relationship is associated with higher:
- Family satisfaction with child care
- Caregiver involvement, both at home and in school
- Quality of caregiver-child relationships
- Sensitive and supportive teacher-child interactions