Family Engagement is an important component of quality child care and research shows it can improve child and family outcomes.
Parents and Caregivers are their child’s first teachers and developing strong relationships with them is vital to improve child and family experiences. Family engagement benefits your child care program and the families you serve. It can be accomplished through simple daily interactions, hosting a fun family event, sharing community resources, involving families in curriculum planning based on their child’s strengths and interests, developing volunteer opportunities, and more!
Here are a few family engagement ideas to consider:
- Invite families to share a favorite family photo or create an opportunity to take the family’s photo to print and hang in your program in an area where children and their families can see them each day.
- Create a wish list for recycled and gently used materials appropriate for Preschool-age children to enjoy while in your program. Parents and caregivers don’t always have the money or time to help on-site. However, they are happy to help in other ways, such as collecting needed items for the program. Ask for cardboard boxes, leftover yarn scraps, felt, ribbon, and fabric scraps. Additionally, specific children’s books and items to include in the dramatic play area can be fun and give families a sense of pride they can contribute in this way.
- Host a family pizza and game night.
- Create a Family Engagement Bulletin board or Binder to share resources that families may find helpful or services they need.
- NH Department of Health and Human Services NHEasy: SNAP, Child Care Scholarship information, etc.
- WIC contact information
- Early childhood screening locations and contact information
- Family Resource Center address and contact information and add a sample flyer for parent education
- Family-centered activities and events in your community
- List local parks, playgrounds, and community nature trails in your area
For more ideas, write to us at ccrr@snhs.org and one of our outreach specialists will be happy to share more resources with you!
|