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
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