How can you participate in your child's early education? Even though daycare teachers are the experts, parents also play important roles in the child's first years of learning. Take a look at what you need to know about your part in the childhood education equation.
Is Participation Really Important?
According to a study published in the journal Child Development, parental involvement can positively impact social skills and decrease behavior problems as children age. Along with these benefits, engagement in the early education process can also help to build the parent-child relationship and create parent-school partnerships.
What Size Role Do Parents Need to Play?
Even though parental participation can have a positive effect on the young child's development in the early years, you don't have to quit your job to volunteer every day in your preschooler's daycare classroom.
There is no universal or required amount of time to participate in your young child's early education. Instead of a size role or hour number, think quality over quantity. Whether you visit your child's classroom as a story-time reader every week, help with the occasional classroom party, or participate in another way, choose a time amount that you feel comfortable with.
How Can You Participate in Your Child's Early Education?
Participation in a child's early learning years doesn't look the same for every family. Some moms or dads enjoy regular classroom-based volunteer work, while others prefer out-of-school parent-child activities. If you're not sure where to start your parent participation search, talk to the teacher.
The child care educator can provide you with information on classroom-based opportunities. Along with specific ways you can help in your child's classroom, the teacher may also offer tips for ways to engage in your child's education at home. These could include extending classroom activities (such as a take-home art project or science experiment) or general ideas (such as books to read together).
Should You Talk to Your Child About Your Participation?
Simply stated—yes. While you don't necessarily need your three-year-old's approval to volunteer as the classroom story-time reader, you should discuss your participation with them. Keep the conversation light and use words or phrases your preschooler easily understands. Explain what you'll do in the classroom or provide your child with examples of at-home activities the two of you can try together.
Encourage your child to ask you questions and invite participation ideas. These ideas could include special times your child wants you to visit the classroom or preschool projects they'd like to try at home.
Reach out to a local daycare to learn more.
Share2 December 2020
After my children started school, I knew that I had to do something to improve their comprehension. I started slowly by working with them with their homework, and then I slowly gravitated towards working with them to master the core concepts they were learning in school. It was a lot of work, but my efforts really paid off. After about three months, my children's teachers were reporting improved grades and better mastery of most of the core concepts. This blog is here to help other parents to know how to improve their own child's education so that they can enjoy a happier life.