Page 2 - LESSION 18.pmd

Involvement of Parents and Community

• discuss contributions of parents and community in the functioning of an
ECCE centre;
Notes • identify the benefits of parent-teacher involvement; and

• describe activities that can be organised for active participation of parents
and community.

18.1 THE NEED AND IMPORTANCE OF PARENTS AND
COMMUNITY AWARENESS IN ECCE

It is not only the parents but other family and community members who share
the responsibility of caregiving. Looking after the well-being of children is
equally important at home, as compared to the preschool. What do we mean
by involving or working with the family? Let us now understand what we mean
by parental or family involvement.

18.1.1 Defining Parent Involvement

In ECCE, we talk about two very important components. The first one is
‘parents are supporters in their children’s early education and care’. The second
is parents are active partners in their children’s early learning. Involvement of
parents in ECCE could be seen as when parents participate in the early
education, growth and development of their children from birth. They are the
primary source of influence in their children’s lives. The early years of a child’s
life are the impressionable years. Whatever is said or done to them by
caregivers is deeply embedded in them for life. It would become very difficult
or rather, impossible, to change their attitude in later years. Therefore, the
parent’s involvement at the right age is very important.
In order to understand the meaning of parental involvement, we need to
understand the following:

i. Helping parents to establish a stress-free, harmonious home environment
that help children flourish freely and learn without fear.

ii. Encouraging parents to volunteer and help during cultural programmes in
the preschool or accompany the children during a theme-based or project-
related excursion where additional adult supervision is required.
iii. Keeping the communication channels open between home and preschool
and encouraging exchanges of children’s activities. This two-way
communication is essential for children’s overall development as it helps
to know the children better. For example, how a child is learning phonics;
why a child is having problem in relating with other children; why a child
has a fear to climb on slides; why a child is a reluctant reader but enjoys

148 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION