Early childhood education plays a vital role in young children’s development. But in order for children to fully flourish, there must also be robust partnerships between their teachers and family members.
Northwest Missouri State University’s online MSEd. in Early Childhood Education program prepares educators to address the holistic needs — educational, social and emotional — of children 8-years-old and younger. The program’s carefully designed curriculum was developed with feedback from highly experienced teachers and administrators in the field.
Research from UNESCO shows the period between a child’s birth and their eighth birthday is a critical window for learning. “When children are healthy, safe and learning well in their early years, they are better able to reach their full developmental potential as adults and participate effectively in economic, social, and civic life,” states UNESCO. Close collaboration between teachers and families increases the odds a child will reach that full potential.
What Role Do Families Play in Early Childhood Education?
An engaged family can make a huge difference in a student’s educational success at every stage of their education journey. “Defined broadly as a shared responsibility between families, schools, and communities to actively support children’s learning, family engagement is associated with stronger social-emotional development, higher school attendance, and better academic outcomes for students of all ages,” states the Overdeck Family Foundation, a grant-making organization with expertise in early childhood education. Recent research shows these positive effects happen for a few reasons.
For example, families can act as co-teachers, giving their children the first lessons in subjects like literacy and math through normal activities like play-based learning. The Foundation adds, “Numerous studies have found that parents’ active promotion of a cognitively stimulating home learning environment is the family engagement practice most predictive of children’s academic skills in Pre-K and elementary school.” This ensures that students have a head start on foundational skills that will set them up for future academic success.
The Benefits of Effective Family-School Partnerships
Another important role that families can play is in building strong relationships with their children’s formal educators. According to Overdeck, this is especially important in the initial years of a student’s development, as research shows that family engagement in schools begins to decline in the transition to middle school. “Parents who monitor their children’s schoolwork and hold high academic expectations tend to see their children perform better in school,” states the Foundation.
Fortunately, the benefits of parental involvement in early childhood education far outweigh the costs of effort and time it may require. Every stakeholder with a connection to a child’s success should have an incentive to encourage family-school partnerships because such relationships can yield positive outcomes for all. The Harvard Graduate School of Education supports this, noting that students with engaged families see higher grades and better attendance. Educators also see benefits, reporting higher levels of job satisfaction and “greater success in motivating and engaging with students from different backgrounds,” according to Harvard.
Help Young Learners Succeed With an MSEd. from Northwest
In Northwest Missouri State University’s online MSEd. in Early Childhood Education program, teachers develop the skills needed to facilitate key family-school partnerships. Courses like Multicultural Education for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Trauma Informed Practices prepare graduates to implement culturally responsive practices that benefit all students and families.
Educators who complete the program graduate well-prepared to build a classroom community where families are active participants in their children’s learning journey. This respected online program offers teachers with a passion for early childhood education a viable pathway to specializing in a rewarding, high-growth field.
Learn more about Northwest Missouri State University’s online MSEd. in Early Childhood Education.
