Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 1 Chapter 2: Working with Families

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2 Is Involvement Worth the Effort? Benefits to teachers and caregivers Benefits to parents and families Benefits to children

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 3 Shift in roles From: professionals as “experts” whose role is to teach parents how to support child’s development To: empowering parents and recognizing that they too have expertise Or, more accurately, “avoid disempowering” them

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4 Shift in emphasis From: Child To: Family (family-based intervention)

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5 Family Friendly Schools Welcome parents visually and emotionally Accommodate diverse families Make it easy to get involved Demonstrate that parental options and involvement are important Create spaces for parents Provide assistance and resources

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 6 Understanding Beliefs and Attitudes Religious beliefs People with different racial or ethnic backgrounds Single-parent families Political beliefs Healthy lifestyles

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 7 Family Life Today A3C13AF531759BD8667FAF09CC609F1DEC7F6C47DCAC C06FC0C2AB7B FC8E730DDDFE5BDC7 A3C13AF531759BD8667FAF09CC609F1DEC7F6C47DCAC C06FC0C2AB7B FC8E730DDDFE5BDC7 The extended family Divorce and single-parent families Blended families Gay and lesbian families Two-Career families Older and younger parents Ethnic/Cultural diversity Family mobility Homeless families

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 8 Cross-cultural competence Listen without judging Identify areas of difference or “cultural bumps” Admit uncertainty about what to do next Raise possibility that both sides are “right” Look for compromise solution that both can accept

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9 Connecting with families Lay groundwork with clearly written statement of philosophy and goals Invest in solid beginnings to relationships with careful plans for points of entry Welcome family members on site at initial enrolment and maintain open-door policy

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 10 Connecting with families (cont.) Accept families of all types Avoid competition with parents Visit families in homes At their convenience With clear purpose and realistic goals Positive focus

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 11 Teacher-Parent Conferences Bring families Build rapport Provide more information Show student work Three-way conference Confidentiality!

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12 Communicating with families Newsletters Conferences (informal and formal) Group meetings Documentation of children and their work s (if family wants to) Telephone calls

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 13 Extending relationships Provide links with needed community resources Help child and family prepare for smooth transition to what comes next (e.g., kindergarten) yer.aspx?Code=16499A3C13AF531759BD 8667FAF09CC62FC6A2BAFCC5C5B3D407 A4530ABD1520CB0AC885A999A6876B8B 96852AEE10BF yer.aspx?Code=16499A3C13AF531759BD 8667FAF09CC62FC6A2BAFCC5C5B3D407 A4530ABD1520CB0AC885A999A6876B8B 96852AEE10BF

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 14 Detecting and Reporting Abuse Make sure policy stated clearly upon enrollment so families know your obligation Work with agencies to help children who might be placed with you due to abuse Help prevent abuse by connecting families to needed supports Are you a mandated reporter?

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 15 Child Abuse, Neglect, Sexual Molestation, and Emotional Maltreatment Recognizing Child Abuse (p.49) What to Do When Abuse Is Suspected How to Find Help Action Should Be Prompt Helping the Child’s Family After the Referral Has Been Made Helping the Child While the Family is in Treatment

Guiding Young Children, 8 th Edition Hearron/Hildebrand © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 16 DCFS aspx?Code=16499A3C13AF D94B 08E05E600C0817F274DC E16B3885D 1EA639693EC5C86EFB079212C586557CC3 aspx?Code=16499A3C13AF D94B 08E05E600C0817F274DC E16B3885D 1EA639693EC5C86EFB079212C586557CC3 Toll-free within California, phone (800) TDD [Hearing Impaired] (800)