Parents Involved In Early Years

Although the Head Start program focuses on preparing the children for school it does offer outreach and training activities to assist parents with understanding their child’s development and their overall parenting skills (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). Parental needs are met when parents receive classes or workshops that educate them on their child’s development allowing parents to create activities for their child at home as well as when they are in Head Start (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002).

This paper will discuss various forms of caregivers, parenting styles, and early childhood education. Topics covered are:

Belsky (2007) How early child care affects later development; goes into great detail about a study conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). In 1991 NICHD did a study on what the immediate and long terms effects of child care experiences are for a childs cognitive and social-emotional development. In this study Developmental Scientist in 10 different area’s got mothers shortly after the birth of their child to be part of this research. They studied 1,364 children and their family's starting in infancy and going through child hood to see how the different types of child care effected each child. This study found that regardless of the type of child care a child was in, The parents are actually the most important relationship. It found that Parents are the biggest influence on the childs development. It also said that it is important to pay attention to the quality of the daycare your child is in because when a child

It is also important for families to share their skills and knowledge by actively engaging in activities and events at the school. “Early childhood education programs create an ongoing and comprehensive system for promoting family engagement by ensuring that program leadership and teachers are dedicated, trained and receive the supports they need to fully engage families” (NAEYC, 2009,

Relations between home and school can be strengthened by multiple strategies developed by the teacher and the parents to benefit the child. The friendship between the school and the home of the child is crucial. The open communication between the school and parents is important because it allows the teachers to gain insight and understanding of the child’s development and behavior. In the book, A Child Goes Forth A Curriculum Guide for Preschool Children by Barbara Taylor, it suggests sending a daily note home with the child, so the parents are able to read about their child’s day. Along with that, a newsletter is also recommended to post weekly and/or monthly about the classroom to keep the parents up-to-date and inspire questions or comments

The findings of Albers et al. that childcare providing stimulation enhances cognitive development are further supported by Li, Farkas, Duncan, Burchinal, and Lowe (2013) who studied the relationship between the quality of childcare and the level of cognitive development. The participants recruited for this study were a socioeconomically diverse sample of American children and their family. This study by Li et al. then divided early childhood into two significant developmental periods (infant toddler and the preschool years). A quality threshold was then used to distinguish between low and high quality childcare and then infant and preschool cognitive development was tested. This study by Li et al. supported the findings of Albers et al. as it described that high

Mr.Waldfogel explained in his article "What do children need?" how important the parents part in a child's development as well as the caregiver provided to the child. In this day and age, almost all households have both parents working or if it is a single parent home that one parent working. Leaving no choice but to find affordable child care, which in many cases is not the most educational care for the child. For example, if the child is in a daycare that is over populated or understaffed that child might not be receiving educational tools such as memory games, learning the alphabet or learning to count from one to five. The parents of these children work all day and still need to provide care in the evening hours for their children, most if not all are unable to teach or read to their children because of lack of time or other circumstances.

By giving families with information, this school has assisted them to shape home environments in learning in type1 parenting activities. Families obtain significant information about their children's growth through parent education programs (Epstein et al., 2002). Topics were focused on methods to participate at school, ways for bolstering children learn at home, and parenting skills. Tooth brushing fundamental courses are given to younger students’ parents that they can equip their children with basic self-caring skills. “Let’s talk with our children”, this parent-child communication training course includes handbooks, DVD and suggestion, has been implemented and provided guidance of teaching language through parent-child activities since

The current needs of toddlers and families when it comes to affordable child care is to remember that “All children are born wired for feelings and ready to learn" (Mitchell, 2006) and by including good, affordable child care, we are providing essential brain food. To start with, the Microsystem is the “closest system to the child. It contains the child, the immediate nuclear family, and others directly related to the child.” (Swim, 2017, p.11) in which case a toddler can have their development hindered if not in an active environment versus an environment where they are able to explore. A daycare center that has a variety of others in their center can help a toddler’s microsystem form and grow, as stated: “These children have widespread cultural differences in customs, family structure, and parenting styles.” (Swim, 2017, p.11) where there are “Respectful, mindful teachers that are necessary in all child care setting to promote interest, acceptance, and pride among children and families.” (Swim, 2017, p.11) helping to fuel a toddlers brain.

Even though the cost of daycare has also increased over the years it has also increase the child’s learning and behavior for the near future which sometimes cannot be found in a child’s home. According to O’Hara (2010), between 2002 and 2007 households that used daycare saw an increase from 42% to 48%. It is important that good quality childcare supports family high standards. Since the cost of childcare has risen, parents that work long hours have to take advantage of childcare which can prove that is a positive outcome that can benefit and enhance educational opportunities, adjust to routines, and future conflicts ( as cited in Ahnert & Lamb, 2004). O’Hara (2010), believed that the results from the study states that children that is cared for in the facility include positive child interactions, adult understanding, and much more (as cited Hayes, 2008). O’Hara (2010) also wrote, the child’s development of new experiences and behavior is in the hand of the caregiver. As the child is placed in daycare early education should be the main focus of a child’s experience which takes place in a safe and healthy environment where the child is respected. (as cited in Hayes, 2005). According to O’Hara (2010), in this study there were 325 parents and 519 children from age

Babies are fascinating. According to the Center for Disease Control, 3,932,181 of them were born in the United States in 2013, of which 40.6% were born to unmarried women. It is true that most parents want what is best for their children; however, the methodology and resources for childrearing vary from home to home. Today’s society is built on self-discipline, self-reliance, and skill; therefore, the development of little ones must take center stage. However, this development is unique just as the children and the parents who are responsible for their upbringing are unique. While preschool programs can be a beneficial tool, it should not be mandatory because there is no significant evidence of success for federally funded programs; early childhood development occurs diversley among children; and parents alone are best qualified and responsible to nurture their preschoolers as they see fit.

Child care is now an ordinary part of life for children in most western countries. More than half of infants are placed in some form of child care for at least ten hours during their first year of life, and more than three-quarters of families with young children depend on child care as a support for maternal employment. Formal child care can also provide early

Since the beginning of my professional career (2009) I have devoted most of my research time to Early child care research. I have published two articles on this topic – this year in the Journal of Human Resources (with D.Filmer, K.Macours and S.Naudeau) and in 2015 in the Economic of Education Review (alone) – and I am currently conducting as a Principal Investigator two other randomized controlled trials in Cambodia (with D.Filmer and J.Berkes) and in Egypt (with M.Frölich, R.Magally and B.Stingler).

As stated by the Michigan Department of Education, the most effective forms of parent involvement are those, which engage parents in working directly with their children on learning activities at home. Decades of research show that when parents are

Parents need for childcare to enable them to study, undertake training or participate in other activities outside the home, increasing participation in the workforce, particularly for women, and optimising children’s learning and development.