Date of Award

Spring 1987

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Education

First Advisor

Nordberg, Robert B.

Second Advisor

Thom, Carl G.

Abstract

As a parent, teacher, and director of a Parent Cooperative Preschool, I have realized the importance of involving and including parents in the educational process of their children. Through my observations and working experience in early childhood education, I have seen the positive aspects of parents, teachers, and children working together as partners in their child's education. The family learns together as the parents become more aware of their child's social, emotional, and intellectual development. If we, as early childhood educators, can motivate and train parents to become involved early in their child's education is seems probable that their involvement will continue throughout their child's years of schooling and they will reap the greatest benefits from their early involvement. Also, reaching parents to become involved early in the child's education will result in the child's having a positive attitude toward education. There are many approaches to parental involvement, and programs may be designed to meet the needs of parents and children. The age-range for parent participation can be from infancy through adolescence and can include the spectrum of children who are developmentally handicapped to children who are exceptional learners. Programs can be for home or school-based instruction. This paper develops the concept of parental involvement and prepares a model for setting up a parent-involvement program and a look at a systematic approach to such involvement. The paper is geared toward early childhood education, day care centers, play groups, preschool and kindergarten programs...

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