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:

1. Orientation and parent education classes
2. Weekly classroom participation hours for parents
3. Parent work days for maintenance, cleaning, and beautification
4. Creating curricular units that are presented by the parents
5. Snack preparation and serving guidelines
6. Celebration expectations for holidays and birthdays
7. Participation in cultural celebrations and community services projects
8. Fundraising for the school and a scholarship fund
9. Responsibility for reporting illnesses and absences
10. Labeling children’s clothing and personal care items
11. Guidelines for children bringing books, toys, and sharing items to school
12. Dress code expectations
13. Understanding safety procedures
14. 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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