Engaging in a child’s learning and development is a dynamic and intentional process. Research shows that active family engagement leads to better outcomes for children and builds strong learning communities. Effective family engagement invites adults to learn together the best ways to connect, build trust, and join in true partnership for the well-being of a child.
The Trying Together Family Engagement Toolkit supports caregivers in bolstering their family engagement practice.
In this toolkit, families and early childhood educators can:
At its essence, family engagement is a process in which educators and families build intentional, authentic relationships toward the shared goal of supporting a child’s healthy growth and development.
Providers can learn how to make a family engagement plan, make a connection with families, and deepen the connection through their practice.
Relative providers fill two special roles as both a family member and a provider for a child. When a relative provider engages with a parent or caregiver using intentional, strengths-based supportive strategies for communicating and connecting, they actively strengthen the network of caring adults that contribute to the child’s healthy learning and growing.
Family involvement can benefit all children, especially those less likely to succeed in school.
Families can learn more about how to make a family engagement plan, make and strengthen connections with carers, prepare for transitions, and more.
Support, inspiration, and insight for the Family Engagement Toolkit was drawn from several sources, including Jefferson Regional Foundation.
Learn more about our supporters and contributors.
The Family Engagement Toolkit is available to read or download as a PDF, which includes links to additional resources and fillable PDF forms.
