Making Families Welcome

In her article, "Making Families Welcome," which serves as the basis for the Out of the Box Training Kit by the same name, Deadru Hilliard outlines a number of strategies for engaging families in the life of a center.  Here are a few of her ideas...

"When enrolled in the center, new parents are introduced to all staff from the director to the kitchen manager.  Each staff member plays a key role in how well the center is maintained.  Parents become familiar with all of those who come in contact with their child, as well as those who spend a major portion of their day with that child.  Parents can utilize any staff person to gain resources and information even when their child's teacher is not present.  This establishes a commitment to work together and with their child so that all transitions to the next level go well...

"As we thought about rearranging our classroom, we came up with an idea of putting adult-size chairs around the different play areas.  They are used to invite parents in to sit and talk with teachers or to observe children in their play.  Parents are encouraged to give us feedback about their observations or any suggestions about the room. Interaction with parents and other children also happens during this time, allowing for families to form new relationships and community."

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