Parent and Teacher’s Interaction in Early Childhood Education
Parenting in ECCE for Maximum Learning Outcomes
Research shows that early high-quality interventions engaging parents lead to consistent, long-lasting effects on children learning outcomes (Bustamante et al., 2017b cited by IIEP-UNESCO, 2018). Active involvement of parents in early childhood education maximizes learning experiences of each student.
Early Childhood Care and Development
Early childhood is a crucial time for the brain development. Childhood lays the foundation to become an integrated human.
When parents engage with the teacher at ECCE, maximum learning experience occurs at two levels. Teacher learns about the family and its culture. Family observes what a child is learning at school. It makes possible for two-way communication for mutual benefits. Wise educator considers this opportunity as the best for the larger interest of a child’s development.
Why two way communication requires in ECCE?
When parents come to school and ask a lot of questions to the educator. Educator needs to understand that these questions and interactions is going to benefit the child. We simply need to understand that the family has the trust on us so that s/he sends the child to our school. When a parent asks several questions to the educator it simply means that s/he wants to make sure that his child is taken utmost care at school; the way she prefers. Educator needs to consider in a bigger picture. We find that several families may be first time parents. Some of these families even don’t know much about the needs of a child at early education days.
Parent’s involvement
“The parents need to be involved in what’s going on in their child’s world, their child’s education, the school itself,” says Ferguson, “and this is only going to benefit the child and the family as the child moves into elementary school classrooms.”
Communication with parents develop mutual trust and respect for each other. If a parent is asking so many questions to educator it simply means that s/he is a concerned parent. Wise educator finds a way to understand the parent and respond positively.
Teacher’s involvement
We often get a stereotype answer from parent. Sir, we don’t have time to take care. Sir we are working parents. My child stays with you for a longer time. Teacher feels embarrassing situations. It is dilemma for a teacher i.e. What to reply in this situation? Ferguson advises teachers “to slowly but surely get the parents to understand how important it is for them to be involved.” I generally ask my parents. Sir you need to share with me the general observation at home i.e., how s/he reacts, what is her behaviour, what is her response to a situation. You need to share with me. I assure you that I will work in the school.
365 days communication
Teacher needs to open for the discussion. The change will not come in a day. It is a continuous process. Parent will gradually understand the importance of two-way communication for the betterment of the child and for the proper development at the early stage of learning. Family involvement in teaching -learning process should be a continuous process in other words it is matter of not one day or two days but 365 days.
References and Resources
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