Tips For Being More Involved In Your Child's Early Education Experience

When it comes to your child’s education, parents play an important role, especially during the formative early years. That’s one of the best reasons parents should be involved in their child’s early educational experiences when he begins attending preschool in Brookline, daycare in Brookline, or Brookline family daycare.

Fortunately for parents, there are plenty of opportunities to become involved in their child’s early educational experience. The good news is that there is enough variation that it’s always possible to find something that you have time for and interest in volunteering for, whether it’s assisting in the classroom as a “parent helper” or book reader, chaperoning a class field trip, sewing costumes for a school play, helping out with fundraising activities like bake sales, or volunteering for clean up duty after a school event at your child’s preschool in Brookline or Brookline daycare program.

Parents who work full-time often have time constraints when it comes to being involved in their child’s preschool in Brookline, daycare in Brookline, or Brookline family daycare program, but don’t let that discourage you! The first step is to decide how much time you have available.

Once you’ve determined a manageable time commitment, whether it’s a few hours a month or once a week, take a look at the monthly activity calendar from your child’s Brookline daycare and see what interests you. Parents who work full-time outside the home will probably prefer to help out with different activities than stay at home moms with more flexible schedules. The secret is to find out exactly what is involved before committing to an activity at your child’s Brookline daycare center or Brookline family daycare.

Next, approach your child’s teacher (parent-teacher conferences are an ideal time to do this) or caregiver and ask if she needs assistance with any of the activities you’re interested in. Chances are, she’ll be more than happy to have you help out.

For parents of children attending preschool in Brookline, Brookline family daycare, or daycare in Brookline, becoming involved in your child’s educational experience is an enriching experience for both you and your child. And, don’t forget to ask teachers and daycare provider for ideas on activities to do at home because learning doesn’t stop once your child leaves the classroom of the Brookline daycare you’ve chosen to send your child to.

Jane Bartlett is a retired educator who spent much of her career in leading Brookline preschool programs and providing daycare in Brookline. She now writes extensively on early education issues and remains active locally in Brookline's preschool community.