Most experts are of the opinion that at the heart of a schooling institution, career guidance should be implemented. However, it is also important to note that there needs to be equal cooperation from students and their families in encouraging their wards to make the most of the learning opportunities given to them with regards to preparing students for future careers. One such way to do so is to enrol in programs where child care providers interact with parents on a regular level to enhance the effect of education on the child.
The most direct and lasting impact on a child’s development and education and his ability to compete socially is largely dependent upon the parents and families involved in rearing the child. Extensive research has revealed that when parents are closely and intimately involved in a child’s education, the child is able to achieve better grades, display positive attitude and good behaviour and is likely to feel more open and welcome in unfamiliar environments. This is why; families are often sought after by early childhood providers in order to cement a firm relationship between the parent and child so that both parties are actively involved in the education of the child.
It is also seen that children’s social skills are better fostered and promoted when families become crucial partners in the child’s education. Some ways used by care providers to understand how families interact with the child are through home visits, telephone conversations, regular parent visit to the school or child care centre, newsletters, workshops, periodic face-to-face communication with parents and teacher, newsletters, bulletin boards, informal notes etc. amongst others. These help in keeping the families informed about how their children are being taught specific social skills and how they are adapting to the environment around them.
The involvement of parents and their support to truly developing a child is just as effective as numerous guidance strategies that are useful in teaching and imparting education to children. Most educational institutes have care providers that involve parents to engage with their children in a specific program wherein parents’ assistance is requested in comprehending the family’s goals for the child and getting to know the child’s background better for all round development of the child. It is also important that care givers are sensitive to the cultural differences and family nuances in every household, which is why it is vital to encourage communication between the family and the care provider to develop mutual respect, shared responsibility and cooperation between both parties for the benefit of the child.
Given the diversity in any given population, child care providers must learn about the different ways, cultures and child raising styles adopted by families that are likely to be different from their own, such as in terms of language, ethnicity and race. By participating in a child care provider program, families and parents become valuable sources of information that helps them bring a meaningful role in the education of the child. It is extremely crucial to establish trust and dialogue between the parent and child care provider in order to learn more about the family, and understand ways to support the families’ values and opinions on many viewpoints on a particular topic concerning the child’s education.
About Manmohan Hebbar
I am the founder and director of 01webdirectory.com and chief editor at 01webdirectory.com/blog.
