Partner
Work with families rather than simply doing things for families.
FAMILY • SCHOOL • COMMUNITY
Family Engagement
Strong relationships create stronger learning communities.
Practical resources to help early childhood educators communicate with families, build meaningful partnerships, share learning at home, prepare for conferences, and create welcoming opportunities for families to participate in their children's learning.
FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS
Engagement Is More Than Communication
Meaningful family engagement is an ongoing process of building respectful, strengths based relationships between educators and families. Families bring valuable knowledge about their children, and educators bring professional knowledge and classroom experience. When those perspectives come together, children benefit.
Listen
Make space for family knowledge, priorities, questions, experiences, and goals.
Communicate
Keep communication clear, respectful, consistent, and two way.
Grow Together
Build shared goals that support children, families, classrooms, and communities.
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
Tools for Meaningful Family Engagement
Choose the resource that matches what you need to communicate, plan, share, or strengthen today.
Family Newsletters
Keep families connected to classroom learning, upcoming events, important reminders, children's experiences, and ways to extend learning at home.
- Monthly newsletters
- Weekly classroom updates
- Family announcements
- Learning highlights
Family Activities
Simple, meaningful activities families can enjoy together while connecting everyday experiences to children's learning and development.
- Literacy activities
- Family science
- Math at home
- Conversation activities
Conference Resources
Prepare for productive family conferences with conversation guides, preparation forms, strengths based discussion prompts, and follow up tools.
- Conference preparation
- Strengths based conversations
- Questions for families
- Follow up planning
Communication Tools
Support consistent, respectful communication through notes, messages, check ins, reminders, celebrations, and family feedback opportunities.
- Welcome messages
- Daily communication
- Positive updates
- Family feedback
Family Partnerships
Build relationships based on trust, mutual respect, shared decision making, family strengths, and meaningful goals for children and families.
- Family goal setting
- Strengths based conversations
- Family voice
- Partnership planning
Family Events
Plan welcoming experiences that give families meaningful opportunities to connect, learn, participate, and build community.
- Family nights
- Classroom celebrations
- Learning events
- Family workshops
TWO WAY COMMUNICATION
Make Communication a Conversation
Communication should not move in only one direction. Families should have meaningful opportunities to share what they know, ask questions, express concerns, celebrate accomplishments, and contribute to classroom decision making.
A message home can be more than a reminder. It can open a door.
01
Share
Tell families what children are learning and experiencing.
02
Ask
Invite families to share knowledge, interests, questions, and ideas.
03
Listen
Give family perspectives genuine consideration.
04
Respond
Follow through so families know their voice matters.
LEARNING AT HOME
Simple Ideas Families Can Use Anywhere
Family activities do not need expensive materials or complicated instructions. Everyday routines can become meaningful learning opportunities.
Read Together
Talk about pictures, characters, events, feelings, and predictions while reading.
Language • LiteracyCook Together
Count ingredients, compare amounts, describe textures, follow directions, and talk together.
Math • Science • LanguageExplore Outside
Look for patterns, observe nature, collect observations, move, compare, and ask questions.
Science • Cognition • PhysicalSort and Organize
Sort laundry, toys, utensils, or other safe household objects by color, size, shape, or use.
Mathematics • CognitionSing Together
Use songs, rhymes, rhythm, movement, and repetition to create joyful learning.
Language • Literacy • PhysicalAsk One More Question
When children make a statement, respond with curiosity and invite them to explain their thinking.
Language • Cognition
BUILDING TRUST
Families Are Experts on Their Children
Families hold knowledge, experiences, traditions, strengths, goals, and insights that educators cannot get from observation alone.
Strong partnerships make room for that expertise. Ask families what they notice at home. Ask what their child enjoys. Ask what works. Ask what they want their child to learn.
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What does your child enjoy doing at home?
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What strengths do you see in your child?
?
What would you like us to work on together?
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What would help your family feel supported?
FAMILY CONFERENCES
Start With Strengths
Productive conferences should create space for celebration, listening, shared understanding, questions, concerns, and meaningful next steps.
01
Celebrate
Begin with what the child is doing well, enjoying, discovering, and accomplishing.
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02
Share
Discuss observations, learning experiences, development, and classroom progress.
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03
Listen
Invite the family perspective and listen carefully to their questions and priorities.
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04
Plan
Identify shared next steps that support the child and strengthen the partnership.
PARTNERSHIP MATTERS
When Families and Educators Work Together, Children Know They Belong.
Create communication that invites conversation. Create activities that invite connection. Create partnerships that honor families as essential contributors to children's learning and development.
Explore Family Resources