Académique Documents
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August 2013
Engaging Families
OVERVIEW
4 1
3 2
Parent engagementfamily partnershipsparent-teacher connectednessno matter how you refer to it, there is no denying what research tells us: that children are more likely to be successful learners when families work together with their child care provider to support childrens growth and development. According to Dr. Joyce Epstein, Director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University, family engagement typically includes six basic categories: 1) Parenting creating a home environment that supports the childs healthy growth and development. 2) Communicating sharing information about the childs progress, significant events, interests, the parents and providers child-
3) Participating/ Volunteering taking part in classroom and program activities as a member of the early learning program. 4) Home Learning providing activities to stimulate childrens learning and development. 5) Leadership/Decision Making advocating and providing guidance on issues that affect the parents child or children in the early learning program. 6) Community Involvement taking part in group and activities using community resources, or taking an active role as a community member. (adapted from On Parents and Schools: A Conversation with Joyce Epstein, Educational Leadership, 1989)
Service Delivery Areas Four Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs), located across Kansas, provide services to all 105 counties. Together, we offer many services for families, child care providers and community members. Our referral center makes finding quality child care programs quick and easy for parents and families. For child care providers and early learning staff, professional development opportunities and resources are available. For local communities, supply and demand data paints the picture about child care. These are just a few of our many services for more details about all of the work we do, please contact your local CCR&R. REGION ONE Service Centers: Salina, Hays, Garden City Toll free 855-750-3343 www.ks.childcareaware.org/one.html
Categories 1 & 2 of family engagement are explored in this issue. Stay tuned for more information in the September/October issue, covering categories 3 & 4, and the November/ December issue, covering categories 5 & 6.
REGION THREE Service Centers: Topeka, Lawrence, Pittsburg Toll free 877-678-2548 www.ks.childcareaware.org/three.html
REGION FOUR Service Center: Kansas City Toll free 800-755-0838 www.ks.childcareaware.org/four.html
HIGHLIGHT
Strengthening Families through Early Care & Education (from the Center for the Study of Social Policy) goes the extra mile to describe parent engagement as a way to build protective factors that guard against child abuse and neglect. However, it should be noted that protective factors are positive attributes for all families, not just those at risk (Strengthening Families: A Guidebook for Early Childhood Programs, 2008). These protective factors include: Parental resilience Social connections Knowledge of parenting and child development Concrete support in times of needs Healthy social and emotional development of children Assess how well-informed families are about what your early learning program offers, by asking them informally at pick-up and drop-off time. (For example: Do you know about our parent resource library in the alcove? Have you seen our scrapbook of our trip to the garden center?). Consider new ways to publicize family activities by posting Fun Facts in the parent information area. Hold a parent meeting or interview parents about their perceptions of family engagement. Make sure that new families know about ways they can be involved in the program and partner them up with a parent buddy who can encourage them to participate. No matter what you do, just remember be creative when engaging families!
BOOK NOOK
From Parents to Partners Building a Family-Centered Early Childhood Program
by Janis Keyser
Parent partnerships are an essential factor in every successful early childhood program. Effective communication is the key to developing and sustaining a family-centered model that fosters thriving relationships with the most significant people in the lives
BEST ur creative r parents. Yo fo r ne rt pa PRACTICE d an t s or nt re pp with a pa portant su up im g in an IN ACTION e nc ar sy s ild e ch ent by ogram rtunity for th Child care pr ilds developm po ch op a e t th or to ce pp re du st su from child ca istency will re efforts can be the transition nsuring cons E d how you se . an ea e d yl ce ti an st ac ns ng rrent pr pectatio parenti cu ex ur t yo en er on ff t di by help you reflec to be confused mmunication. ion below can at rm fo in ronment of co vi he en an er home. T st fo rents style to support a pa e children efforts to guid ve ti si at home po s PARENTING nt do activities force pare to s in nt re re at pa th e ps ho that encourag Host works lending library a a vi s ce ur Provide reso velopment their childs de t or pp su at th eir childs s discussing th nt re pa h G it IN w T e COMMUNICA time one on on nces spend re fe ard so on C t en information bo Host Par nt re pa a on skills ral location abilities and ation in a cent rm fo in ul ef us ur times ant, them with yo p and drop-off Keep import -u ck pi at to familiarize se s c. ow es et br , oc n m pr ca ra n s io og parent care pr ild nt orientat ch re ur pa e yo iv r at fo ear, inform pment, goals Develop a cl of child develo e dg house event le ow kn ilies at an open m fa environment, r hether they he ot t em choose w s to mee th nt t re le d pa r an fo s e nt re Offer a tim options for pa mmunication the day co e child l ng ri ra du ve se ge times, what th xt messa st Provide te re , or es ll ti ca vi ti e e ac phon s log includ prefer email, a written clas h it w y da e t th w much, etc. Share abou t l times and ho ea m on enrollmen ng ri du ate each parent up to ok bo nd care parent ha in your child Provide your engagement ily your m re fa ha er S st t time? ing to fo rs fi do e y th ad r re fo al y u tr es are yo would like to them too! Which strategi s worked for gies that you te ha t ra st ha w e t er ou th program? Are peers and find group of your a h it w ts gh insi
of children in the child care setting. With effective communication as its theme, From Parent to Partner explores the reasons and basis for developing ongoing partnerships with parents and families of children in childcare settings and provides the tools and strategies to build the support network within which these partnerships thrive.
Strong family partnerships create a better environment for children to learn and grow. This resource addresses the realities of working with families and provides effective steps to help you initiate and maintain efforts as you build mutually respectful relationships in your program. Filled with self-assessments, tips, sample letters and forms, and reflection questions to optimize your knowledge, this book will help you collaborate with families to provide better care for children and their parents.
PAID
TOPEKA, KS PERMIT NO. 9
NUTRITION NEWS
1 head romaine lettuce, washed and torn 1 bunch baby spinach, washed and torn 1 small cucumber, scrubbed and diced 12 cup green beans 14 cup diced celery 12 avocado, diced 16 seedless green grapes, halved 14 cup ranch dressing Directions:
Put the lettuce, spinach, cucumber, green beans, celery, avocado and grapes in the salad bowl and toss well. Add the ranch dressing and toss again. Serve right away.
Source: Chop Chop, the Fun Cooking Magazine for Families http://www.chopchopmag.org/recipes/every-shade-green-salad
A program of Child Start, Inc. 1002 S. Oliver Wichita, KS 67218 682-3962 or Toll free 800-684-3962 www.childstart.org
Counties Served: Butler, Cowley, Harvey, Sedgwick and Sumner
Staff Directory
CHERYL DUNN Program Director, CCR&R MARILEE HANEY Senior Manager, Special Projects SHIRLEY LEWIS Early Childhood Wellness Specialist LISA ROLAND Quality Outreach Specialist RENEE BARRETT Quality Outreach Specialist KIMBERLY GARCIA Early Childhood Specalist MELISSA BUCHE Data Specialist CANDACE MALONE Data Clerk AMITAI DELGADO Program Management Assistant
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FAMILY FOCUS
Tips for Effective Communication with Your Children
from The Self-Aware Parent, by Cathy Cassani Adams
Child Care Providers Please copy this page and share with your families!
1.
WANT MORE?
Pick up this book today!
Make yourself a priority - Sounds like a paradox, but to be a good listener you need to take care of yourself. If you are running on empty and constantly overwhelmed with your own concerns (worries, commitments, stress) its hard to bew an effective listener. Taking care of YOU is the first step toward healthy communication with your kids.
2. 3.
Be a good listener - Demonstrate that you are really listening. Stop what you are doing (put down that phone!), make eye contact, and give your children the gift of your attention. Good listeners also let go of the constant need to fix. There are times when offering suggestions and lessons are valuable, but children also appreciate just being heard. Allow for feelings - Dont tell your children how to feel, just let them tell you how they feel. Understand that the full range of emotions is normal. Sometimes children get angry, sometimes they get sad. Expecting them to be happy and gracious at all times is unrealistic. Let them know that it is safe to turn to you if they are feeling strong emotions and offer them tools to deal with challenging feelings.
4.
THE SELF-AWARE PARENT by Cathy Cassani Adams Through a series of relatable essays, Cathy highlights the rich learning moments in our everyday experiences with children. She also tackles everyday parenting challenges such as tantrums, discipline, education, self care and finding balance.
Appreciate their experience - See questions, issues and events from a childs point of view. Parents often tell their children that something they say or feel is silly, unimportant or small, but remember the worldview of a young person - everything is new and big. Respect who they are right now and meet them where they are.
http://www.chicagoparent.com/community/theself-aware-parent/2010/april/tips-for-effectivecommunication-with-your-children
Do you know somebody interested in becoming a child care provider? Have them call their local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency at 1-855-750-3343 for more information!