What Was I Thinking When I Registered for a Parent Participation Preschool?
Great! My kids were just accepted into an incredible parent participation preschool program. After I received my welcome letter, I was given the handbook of parent responsibilities and expectations. I felt lost and overwhelmed when reviewing the thirty-page handbook.
Parent Participation Responsibilities
I love my children dearly and have the time to participate with them at school. I am also aware that participating family responsibilities may include:
- Orientation and parent education classes
- Weekly classroom participation hours for parents
- Parent work days for maintenance, cleaning, and beautification
- Creating curricular units that are presented by the parents
- Snack preparation and serving guidelines
- Celebration expectations for holidays and birthdays
- Participation in cultural celebrations and community services projects
- Fundraising for the school and a scholarship fund
- Responsibility for reporting illnesses and absences
- Labeling children’s clothing and personal care items
- Guidelines for children bringing books, toys, and sharing items to school
- Dress code expectations
- Understanding safety procedures
- Knowledge of discipline and conflict resolution procedures
Wonderful Preschool Outcomes
Although there are many responsibilities, most parents find that their participation with their preschool children is a rewarding experience. Many of us have participated in these programs with our children and now our grandchildren. Last week one of our bloggers read a newly published book about her preschooler to his class. The book reading was followed with a small group activity. The preschooler featured in the book felt like a celebrity when he carefully signed his name on a copy of the book that was donated to the school.
Parent participation programs create long-lasting commitments of engaged parents. These parents are active with their children at school. They also care for all other children and families in their community.
Happy parent participation!
Joyce
Copyright © 2017 by GenParenting
Joyce Iwasaki has over thirty years of educational experience working with diverse students in grades from preschool through high school. Joyce’s extensive background includes teaching elementary school, serving on early childhood advisory boards, and advocating for educational initiatives as a legislative aide. During her tenure as a legislative aide, she helped create legislation that allowed incarcerated mothers to keep their newborn babies with them while in prison. Additional legislation was enacted to allow incarcerated pregnant mothers to remain unshackled during labor and delivery. Ms. Iwasaki established and served as the president of an educational scholarship foundation for fifteen years. Her foundation awarded college scholarships to emerging student leaders who provided service to their schools and communities. Joyce is active in performing arts and cultural organizations. She also provides ongoing support to her daughter and family by raising her grandson in her home.