This paper explores why it is necessary to encourage parent participation and parents and teacher's perceptions about parent participatio. The paper provides lots of ideas on how to involve families plus lists the benefits to all stakeholders.

1. Author – Janette Quince
Kindergarten
A Garden For
Children and their
Families

2. Introduction
 Contour banks –
– Early Years Learning Framework
– Queensland Kindergarten Guidelines
– C & K building Waterfall
Erosion occurs
Parents give reasons why they are not
involved
Teachers also have reasons why they do
not encourage parent participation
Lots of ideas on how to build contour banks
Finally the benefits - Fertile land where a
kindergarten can thrive

3. The Early Years Learning Framework
oPartnerships
oWelcoming environment
oValue and respect diversity
oRecognise connections between
children, families and the community
o‘children learn about themselves and
construct their own identity within
the context of their families and
communities’
o‘children are connected with and
contribute to their world’

4. C & K Building Waterfalls
Urges educators
to ‘affirm and foster meaningful
partnerships with families and the
community’
In consultation with the children’s
parents and team members, develop
a sound inclusive education and care
program founded on the principles of
child development theories and
knowledge of the children in the
centre.

5. Queensland Kindergarten Learning
Guidelines
• ‘building inclusive partnerships’ by ‘involving
and drawing together the experiences,
beliefs, practices and social and cultural
knowledge of many individuals’
• all partners should ‘have a voice and share in
the decision making...[in order to] feel
empowered and connected with others’

6. EROSION OCCURS –
parents attitudes
• Lack of time
• Lack of parking spaces
• Not wanting to take up teacher’s
time
• Centre is the domain of the teachers
and children

7. More erosion occurs
• Lack of understanding of cultural
differences
• Aboriginal parents may lack
‘confidence and skills’ when
communicating with educators
• may not trust or understand the
service

8. Further erosion happens
Lower economic status
• Aboriginal people are among the
most disadvantaged groups in
Australia. May not be able to afford
transport, lunches, clothes,
telephones or a computer.
• Absenteeism may be a further
problem

9. Teachers’ attitudes cause
erosion also
• Disruption to routines and
curriculum teaching
• Shortage of time to communicate
with parents
• inconsistencies between the
teachers’ beliefs and practices

10. Teachers’ Perception of the
Child’s Culture Causes Erosion
• difficulty understanding all cultures
• culture does influence on a child’s
learning
• Lack of communication about how
children can be connected to their
families while in an early childhood
centre

11. Staff beliefs relating to the
proposed change at centres
must be nurtured in order
for it to be fully supported.

12. Contour banks – ways to
involve parents
• Open communication –
spontaneous or planned
– Newsletters
– Parent handbook
– conversations
– Emails
– Interviews

13. More contour banks
• Assistance with excursions
• Taking a leadership role on the
committee
• Attending meetings
• Fundraising
• Volunteer in the room

14. Extra contour banks can
be built
• Guided participation
• Sharing of skills

15. Contour banks - Portfolios
• More than a collection of
information
• Social sharing that enriches
learning and understanding of
learning dispositions and educators
interactions with children.
• The child and family members may
contribute content that reflects
experiences outside the setting

16. Further contouring
• teachers are urged to see parents
as collaborators and to gain
knowledge from parents about
their child as this will complement
the staff’s knowledge and therefore
be a great resource

17. Contour banks – timetabling
activities should be flexible
• Some Family activies could be held
in the evening.

18. Making contour banks by
building bridges
• Welcoming families
• home-to-program connection

19. Fertile land
• Teachers and parents appreciate
each other’s role, promotes the
exchange of information and
enhances children’s learning
• Parents remained involved in their
child’s education
• aided ‘school achievement and
retention’

20. Fertile land
• enjoy benefits such as maternal
employment, increased self
confidence and lower depression
levels

21. Conclusion
• Frameworks and curricula all urge
educators to involve parents
• Erosion occurs due to parents’ busy
lifestyles
• Teachers also cause erosion and
may not want parents to be
involved as the classroom is their
domain

22. • Parents can be involved in many
ways from
– Communication
– Assisting with excursions
– Leadership roles
– Sharing their expertise
– Contributing to portfolios
– Sharing their child’s interests, talents
wants and needs with educators

23. Contour plans enable the
kindergarten to be rich and
fertile and truly a place
where kindergarten
children and their families
are able to grow and
Contour plans enable the kindergarten to be rich and fertile and truly a place where kindergarten children are able to
prosper
grow and prosper.
.