April 2025

Here's "The Scoop!"

TA Topics: Child Abuse Prevention

Every April, we come together to acknowledge and celebrate the vital role of supporting families across New Hampshire. Child Abuse Prevention Month serves as an important reminder of the value of family engagement, fostering strong relationships not only with the children in care but with the entire family unit.  

As early child care educators caring for mixed age groups, you may have the privilege of caring for the same families for several years. This provides a unique opportunity to form lasting relationships with the families in your program, creating an environment where parents feel valued, supported, and comfortable seeking guidance about parenting and child development. Research shows that children are more likely to thrive when their families have the support they need. 

As an early child care educator, you play a crucial role in supporting families who may be experiencing challenges. Your daily interactions with the children often provide important insights into what may be happening within the family and how it may be affecting the child. You can be an invaluable resource by educating parents on why their parenting and home environment are important to fostering their child’s growth and development. Research also highlights the impact of stress on child development. When stress becomes toxic, it can impact the physical architecture of the brain and can potentially impair children’s long-term development. 

Asking for help isn’t always easy. Many parents who feel shame, embarrassment, or frustration may hesitate to seek support. Helping them understand that their struggles are not unique - that other parents experience similar challenges may help reduce the stigma and help them see themselves in a different light. Creating a non-judgmental, supportive space is key in allowing parents to openly share their challenges and seek guidance without fear of criticism. 

 

Family engagement is a collaborative process where early child care educators form genuine partnerships with families. These partnerships promote healthy child development and overall family well-being. Families are a child’s first and most influential caregivers, and by establishing meaningful, enduring relationships with families, we set the foundation for a child’s success. Family engagement also reflects a strengths-based approach, where both the educator and the family bring their own strengths to the table, respecting and supporting one another’s unique contributions.  

This TA Tip was graciously shared by Connie Davis,

Family Child Care Support Specialist

Child Care Aware of NH is here to assist you! To learn more about how we can support your practices, please refer to our Services and Supports Guide

Resources for Providers

Action Steps You Can Take to Help Foster Family Engagement 

Encourage Community Building Among Parents 

Foster a sense of community among the families in your care by encouraging interaction and networking. This can be done through phone trees, informal gatherings, or social events where parents can mingle, share experiences, and support one another. 

Share Resources on the Importance of Parental Involvement 

Provide families with resources that highlight the importance of their role in their child’s development. Share information about how stress in the home can negatively affect a child’s ability to focus and may contribute to challenging behaviors. 

Create a Resource Book for Local Support Services 

Develop a resource book containing information about local service providers, community organizations, and support systems that parents can easily access. This can empower families to seek the help they need and feel more connected to available resources. 

Provide Information About Child Development 

Incorporate discussions on child development into your conversations with parents. Share insights into developmental milestones and model developmentally appropriate expectations.  

Preventing child abuse requires vigilance, awareness, and proactive efforts from everyone involved in a child’s life. As a mixed age care provider, your role in prevention is essential, from creating a nurturing environment to recognizing the signs of abuse and acting when needed. By staying educated, following best practices, and utilizing available resources, you can help ensure that the children in your care grow up in a safe, supportive, and loving environment. 

Resources for Providers

The Strengthening Families Framework is a family engagement approach that is based on the strengths of the family, child, early child care educator, and the community. The Framework increases family supports, enhances child development, and reduces risks pertaining to child abuse and neglect. The approach includes five universal protective factors that support family engagement and increase knowledge in order to achieve positive outcomes for children. Strengthening Families is about how families are supported to build key protective factors that enable children to thrive.  

We’d love to work with you on embedding the Strengthening Families Framework in your program. For information on how your program can adopt the Strengthening Families Framework, or to complete a self-assessment, which will help assess your program's current level of understanding and practices related to family engagement, click on the link or contact us directly at 603-578-1386 ext. 2526 or ext. 2532.  

https://www.nh-connections.org/family-engagement/ 

 For more resources and information about the five protective factors and how to promote them in your program, please visit the resources below: 

www.nhchildrenstrust.org/strengthening-families. 

https://cssp.org/our-work/project/strengthening-families/ 

Did you ever wish children were born with manuals? We all need a little help from time to time, and your local Family Resource Center is available to support you. They offer free parent education, playgroups, family events, individual support, and more.  To find your local Family Resource Center, click on this link to locate one near you:  

Save the Date: National Provider Appreciation Day, which recognizes childcare providers, teachers, and educators of young children, is celebrated on Friday, May 9th, 2025, the Friday before Mother's Day.  Parents, this is a wonderful day to show genuine appreciation for your child care provider and the work they do to support you and your children.