Parent, Family, and Community Engagement

Opportunities for parents are essential in order for the appropriate ways citizens behave in society can be modeled.  Young children are predominantly with their parents during their childhood.  In my experience, young children observe their parents behavior.  Their parents are their first teachers.  Early childhood professionals need their parents to reinforce the skills being taught at school.  We,as early childhood professionals, require parents to invest in their child's education for our work to be successful.

 

 



These stories help society and policy makers realize how essential it is to develop a relationship with schools in order for their child to become thinkers.  Parents want their children to go to college and reach their full potential.  Those parents which did not take a more active part in their children lives regret that decision encourage parents to participate in their child's life.  Parents, that were not active in their child's life, realize how important they are to the success of their child's future.

 

 

Family involvement is essential for the early childhood field to be successful.  The parents are children's first teachers.  They have the ability to advocate for programs which benefit their children.  Their voice can help policy makers understand the importance of early childhood programs in preparing their children for the future.  We need to encourage our families to advocate for the early childhood programs which assist their young children reach their full potential no matter their ability.  Family involvement proves to policymakers that the families believe that early childhood programs are beneficial for their children due to the time families invest in early childhood programs.

 

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/family/For%20Parents/pfs

 



"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-

Quality Programs for All Children

 

I hope in the next five years that society lifts the label off special education.  Society tends to see the label instead of the child.  I would like to see society refer to the unique needs or the label the child was given as an "attribute".  Children with unique needs view the world in a different light.  I hope society learns to embrace the way children with unique needs view the world.

 

 

I hope when the view of society changes, policies will reflect how children with unique needs should not be put in a box though allowed to express their ideas  For years, society have tried to force children with unique needs to think a certain way.  Their ideas were not appreciated or encouraged.  I hope when society changes their view of children with unique needs that they will be encouraged to express their ideas in order to feel good about who they are.  I believe more funding will be provided for early childhood professionals to meet the needs for all children no matter their ability.  I hope policies will reflect investing in curricula which allows children of all abilities to reach their full potential without pointing out children's unique needs.  I hope that preschool and early intervention educators work together to develop techniques to incorporate more inclusion opportunities.

 

 

I hope more families will become more involved in their child's education which have unique needs.  Before I entered the profession of early childhood education, I was a parent of a young child with unique needs.  I felt that even though my child had an IEP, they did not understand my child nor did they want to deal with him.  I hope parents feel they are truly heard instead of feeling their child is misunderstood.  More families would feel empowered to help early childhood professionals by re-enforcing what is taught in school.  I believe more parents would feel early childhood professionals want what is best for their child no matter their need or ability.  I also believe more parents would insist that their early childhood professionals have the training needed to ensure their child with unique needs has the proper expectations to reach their full potential.

"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-

What Resonates with Me about Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy?

When Justin was eight or nine months old, his pediatrician noticed he had low muscle tone and recommended I become involved with the infants and toddlers program.  I thought once Justin learned how to walk, he would no longer need their services.  I did not want my baby labeled due to the fact I felt the teachers would automatically judge him.  The team working with Justin did not explain to me the level of need Justin would require once he made it to school.  They used the term "global delay" which I did not understand as delayed in all areas meaning he would require special education services in order to reach his full potential.  After going through this experience with my son, I became very passionate about helping families with young children understand special education does not mean the end of the world, just requires a unique way of looking at the world.

 

 

Unfortunately, the government can take the beauty out of education.  Advocates can bring the beauty back into education.  Sometimes education can forget our mission to help all children reach their full potential while helping their families.  When the government makes it difficult for us to fulfill our mission by enforcing challenging policies, advocates can be there to remind educators of the beautiful gift we possess with the great responsibility we, as educators, have to encourage children to become productive members of society to ensure our future.

 

I hope to learn how to become a responsible risk taker to provide better opportunities for children and families.  I would like to establish techniques in order to communicate effectively with individuals from various backgrounds and cultures.  I need to learn how to set goals which are realistic.  I would like to also build stamina in order to overcome obstacles which seem impossible to tackle (Kieff, 2009).

 

Reference

 

Kieff, J. (2009).  Informed advocacy in early childhood care and education:  Making a difference for young children and families.  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Pearson Education, Inc.

"It takes a village to raise a child." -African Proverb-