Parent, Family and Community Engagement

Parent, Family and Community Engagement

·       Why involvement opportunities for parents and family members benefit young children, families, and the early childhood field

Giving parents opportunities to volunteer in the classroom not only give them a peace of mind, but it also gives the child confidence to engage with other children and their teachers. it also helps children to feel supported. Learning about nutritional values of food and how to become creative when fixing meals is also a benefit for families. The opportunity of educational training for parents and family/activity night helps them to network with other parents and build a community with their Head Start center.

·       The value that hearing such stories has for early childhood professionals, for the public, and for policymakers and government officials

Early childhood professionals believe that children should be able to explore uninhibited to develop creativity and an imagination. In the stories told by former Head Start participants dreaming and imagination is mentioned often, and I believe it is because of the foundation laid for them as children. This is not only valuable, but rewarding.

Quality Programs for All Children

Quality Programs for All Children


I find it peculiar and somewhat biased that in the 1800's white males considered child care a privilege to the poor. These group of people (the poor) were not only considered inferior, but immoral, and were not capable of training their own children. Now, through observation and research, it is realized that parents are their child's first and best teacher and that the parent-child bond must be developed so that the child can excel in school and life. 

The current opinion in the United States with regard to the value and the importance of providing quality services for young children and families is that this is a necessity because of the many benefits to children who experience school. 

The chart below has influenced my thinking.

Reference

https://www.michiganradio.org/post/low-income-grand-rapids-preschoolers-are-catching-will-lansing-notice

Early Childhood Public Policy

Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy

I chose the specialty of public policy and advocacy because I believe I am a natural advocate and I want to create change. Reminiscing on my childhood I can remember always standing up for what was right and figuring out a way to make things right. What I hope to accomplish to promote the well-being of children, families, and the early childhood field is to advocate for more home visitors in undeserved communities to make families aware of the importance of school readiness.

Advocates are important in the early childhood field to create change in policy and programming that will benefit children and their families. Someone has to fight for the well-being of children and families in this nation. Advocacy... “is the willingness to take a stand on behalf of children and families that goes beyond common decency or expectations” (Jalongo & Isenberg, 2000, p. 36) Furthermore, advocates study the research and literature related to issues and develop well-informed belief systems that they share passionately with others.

What I hope to learn about public policy and advocacy is how to advocate effectively to create a resolve that is positive, how to influence stake holders, and how to turn an idea into a policy. 

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.