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Standard Two
Building Family And Community Relationships
Candidates prepared in early childhood degree programs understand that successful
early childhood education depends upon partnerships with childrens families and
communities. They a) know about, understand, and value the importance and complex
characteristics of childrens families and communities. They use this understanding to b)
create respectful, reciprocal relationships that support and empower families, and c) to
involve all families in their childrens development and learning.
2a. Knowing about and understanding diverse family and community characteristics
2b. Supporting and engaging families and communities through respectful, reciprocal
relationships
2c. Involving families and communities in their childrens development and learning

Being able to help families and their children from diverse backgrounds
is very important. Getting to know each family and the individuals that make
up that family is a key point in trying to understand how you may help them
and their child to grow. Some families may favor a way of their child learning
more than another. Communication between the child, parents, and I is crucial
to help the child learn and grow better in the classroom that also appeals to
their individual (cultural, social, etc.) uniqueness as a family. During the
process of achieving my AAS in Early Childhood Education, I attended a family
oriented activity night that encouraged a better understanding of the
importance and reasoning behind family nights. The families were invited out
to a night of activities and fun decorating opportunities for the child and
parent to participate with each other. This also encouraged the parent, child,
and/or teachers to communicate with each other, participate in an activity,
and to display their own selves as individuals to each other. It was great to
witness the staff working together in order to create a safe, fun, and relations
building event.

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Two of my classmates and I were in charge of creating, building, and

hosting a family event night at Western Iowa Tech Community College during
the book fair. We provided the families and children with activities that
required them to follow directions, communicate, and use their hands. As a
team we created these activities brains scavenger hunt, build your own
monster arts and crafts, and create playdough and turn it into a monster
using arts and crafts. This family night also provided the parents a glimpse at
how their child works, creates, and develops ideas as an individual. We as
developing teachers were offered a glance at how different families operate,
interact, and support each other. Because every family and individual is
different this impacted my thought process of how families are remarkably
individual.
As a teacher or child care provider I must consider the different aspects
that are presented and the unidentified components as well. When a parent is
late dropping off or picking up their child, I must not assume things. However,
I would discuss the matter with the parent about anything I might be able to
do or prepare for in order to help the child, parents, and I.
One thing I am adamant about is getting to know each family that is
willing to share. Holding an event during school hours and once more after
(repeat after for availability) that would encourage the families to come visit
and share about their cultural style is an opportunity for myself to learn about
them and get a better sense of how the family works together and supports
each other. Another tool I used while in school and would practice in my own

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site is interview questions. The questions discuss the topics of who works,
who or how chores are distributed, when do the kids start school, who is
involved in the childs school life, what a typical day looks like, way of
parenting, and brief history of grandparents and any other people directly
involved with the child regularly.
By getting to know each individual family it allows you to create a
complementary relationship with the parents and in turn the child is able to
see the relationship and may value the teacher more. It will also encourage
less behaviors, if the teacher and parent are able to communicate effectively
and are working towards the common good for that child. When a parent
communicates that the morning was a little hectic the teacher is able to
approach the child differently based off of their knowledge of the child and
their family.
-Working at NACCC (learned a little about Native Americans)
-Interviewing parents to understand them a little more
-Respectful of others
-Family days important Why?
-Family Event Night created
-Importance of good relationship between parent and teacher
-Understanding stance of life happens
-Involvement (development, lessons, etc.) is important because
-Im in your childs class hi I am letters sent home to parents
-School/communities individual characteristics
-Assisting family (resources) so that the child will (in turn) benefit