The Importance of Family Engagement in Early Childhood Education

 

Successfully teaching children of all ages requires effort from a combination of teachers and families.  The most important factor in promoting family engagement is building strong relationships between the two.  To achieve this, communication is key.

There is a strong correlation between family involvement and student success.  According to NAEYC’s Dr. Kyle Snow, “Meaningful family engagement in children’s early learning supports school readiness and later academic successes.  Parental involvement is a critical element of high-quality early care and education.”  It is the goal of every school to keep families informed and updated on the happenings of the classroom, and ours is no different.  We strive to open the lines of communication using our Family Information Boards, car talk boards, newsletters, progress reports, etc.  Parents are encouraged to keep up with what our students are learning, and teachers are always available to discuss concerns and progress.

It is important for teachers and parents to stay on the same page and to communicate so the children’s well-being is always prioritized first.  They should use each other as valuable resources, as children spend all of their time with either set of caregivers and there is always information to be shared about the child’s routine, emotional state, and out-of-the-ordinary events.

According to The American Family: Understanding Its Changing Dynamics and Place In Society, family engagement is defined as, “the participation of parents in every facet of the education and development of children from birth to adulthood.”  Parents who take responsibility of their children’s well-being by actively enforcing what their children learn in school help ensure that their children are getting everything they can out of their early education.

-Emily Lian, Education Director
Early Childhood Education Expert