Families and Educators Together

Building Great Relationships

Derry Koralek, Karen Nemeth, Kelly Ramsey

• Publisher: The National Association for the Education of Young Children
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781938113468
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Early Childhood Education

Home–school relationships have always been a cornerstone of children's success and well-being.

But cultivating positive, supportive partnerships between educators and families is an ongoing process, one that requires reciprocal respect and communication to grow. Use the practical information and ideas in this book to develop and embed a culture of family engagement in all aspects of your early childhood program, from curriculum planning to addressing children's individual needs, by:

• Creating a welcoming environment for families
• Providing many ways for families to engage in the program and their children's learning
• Ensuring two-way communication and addressing communication challenges
• Building on learning opportunities families already provide at home
• Supporting diverse home languages and cultures
• Collaborating on community-wide efforts

Packed with strategies, resources, and examples from early childhood programs, this book illustrates numerous ways to engage families in your early childhood community so that together, families + educators = thriving children.

Appendix: Family Engagement Resources

Resources for Educators and Family Support Professionals

The following items are great resources for professionals to use on their own and to share with families. Look for the asterisk (*) for resources that are family-friendly.

Title, Author, Source, & URL	Description	Sample Contents
Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors: Building a Better Future Through Parent Leadership A Project of the Tides Center Los Angeles, CA www.ap-od.org	This evidence-based comprehensive training program (available in Spanish and English) was developed by and for Latino parents with children ages 0–5. At a three-day institute, facilitators learn to implement the 10 sessions with families.	Best practices are addressed in the following areas: Early childhood development Literacy Numeracy Bilingualism Health Attendance Civic engagement Leadership Goal setting
Building Partnerships: Guide to Developing Relationships with Families National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/building-partnerships-developing-relationships-families.pdf (full document)	A professional development guide with learning tools, strategies, and resources for early childhood professionals.	From page 3: The OHS Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework is a roadmap for progress. It is a research-based approach to program change designed to help Head Start, Early Head Start, and early childhood programs achieve outcomes that lead to positive and enduring change for children and families.
Building Strong Foundations: Advancing Comprehensive Policies for Infants, Toddlers, and Families ZERO TO THREE www.zerotothree.org/resources/series/building-strong-foundations	A collection of resources related to supporting infants, toddlers, and their families.	Some resources in this collection were codeveloped with the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP): From the Ground Up: Establishing Strong Core Policies for Infants, Toddlers, and Families Policy Framework for Infants, Toddlers, and Families Parent Support Services and Resources: Critical Supports for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
Child and Family Blog* Multiple authors University of Cambridge, UK www.childandfamilyblog.com	Developed by The Future of Children at Princeton University and the Applied Developmental Psychology Research Group at the University of Cambridge in 2013 and funded by the Jacobs Foundation in Zurich.	Research-based content includes articles about topics such as: › Flexible work related to fathers’ relationships with young children › Grandparents’ contributions in families with low incomes › Parent support programs that tackle childhood obesity
Community and Family Toolkit TESOL International Association www.tesol.org/advance-the-field/advocacy-resources/community-and-family-resources-for-elps	This toolkit can be used by English language professionals at all levels to engage families. Each section introduces an effective practice and suggests ways to replicate it. Strategies include a library backpack program, family mentors, family field trips, and information on advocacy efforts.	From “Family Mentors,” page 12: Things for You to Consider › Establish how often mentors should check in with mentees. In the beginning, it is advisable that mentors check in once a week. As the year progresses, mentors should check in every other week. › Establish a reporting system of mentor/mentee meetings and correspondences. › Understand that some mentees may not feel comfortable with additional paperwork. › Consider having mentors write down dates and any issues that need to be resolved. › Consider hosting Family Mentor Program receptions before or after school events to build a community of mentors/mentees.
Creating Activities for Strengthening Parent–Child Connections: A Professional’s Guide Julia Yeary ZERO TO THREE www.zerotothree.org/resources/25-creating-activities-for-strengthening-parent-child-connections#downloads	Developed as part of Coming Together Around Military Families, this guide offers resources and parent–child activities for implementation in a variety of settings.	From activity instructions in the “Story Time” chapter, page 8: Encourage parents to share books with children. Allow children to choose the stories that are shared with them. Volunteers can offer to read a book to the group, if there is an interest. Ideally, however, this would be a chance for parents and children to cuddle and read together.
DEC Recommended Practices Division for Early Childhood of the Council for Exceptional Children Reston, VA 2014 www.dec-sped.org/dec-recommended-practices	This guide informs practitioners and families about the most effective ways to improve the learning outcomes and promote the development of young children, birth through age 5, who have or are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities.	From “Family,” page 10: Family practices encompass three themes: 1. Family-centered practices: Practices that treat families with dignity and respect; are individualized, flexible, and responsive to each family’s unique circumstances; provide family members complete and unbiased information to make informed decisions; and involve family members in acting on choices to strengthen child, parent, and family functioning. 2. Family capacity-building practices: Practices that include the participatory opportunities and experiences afforded to families to strengthen existing parenting knowledge and skills and promote the development of new parenting abilities that enhance parenting self-efficacy beliefs and practices. 3. Family and professional collaboration: Practices that build relationships between families and professionals who work together to achieve mutually agreed upon outcomes and competencies and support the development of the child.
The Early Childhood Family Engagement Framework Toolkit: Maryland’s Vision for Engaging Families with Young Children The Maryland Family Engagement Coalition https://nafsce.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/toolkits/maryland_early_childhood_fam.pdf (full document)	This 98-page comprehensive toolkit outlines Maryland’s seven goals for family engagement and approaches to achieving them; addresses special topics such as young dual language learners and cultural proficiency; and shares examples of effective practices, a self-assessment, and resources list.	From Goal 1: Professional Development, page 4: When working with families, relationships should be built on the Three R’s: › Receptive—famil...