Why Involve Families

Effective Family Partnerships Begin with YOU!

As important as you are in a child’s life, parents^* and families play an even more important role.
^* The term “parents” refers to the people who have guardianship or custodial control over a child. This may include biological parents, step parents, grandparents, foster parents, etc.

Henderson and Berla (1994) found family involvement to be a better predictor of a child’s school achievement than the family’s income or social status when families are able to:

• Create a home environment that encourages learning,
• Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers, and
• Become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community.

Research studies link family involvement during early childhood with these positive child outcomes:

• Successful transition into kindergarten
• Higher reading achievement
• Positive development in communication, daily living and motor skills
• Lower rates of grade retention
• Fewer years in special education (Marcon; Miedel & Reynolds, cited in Carter, 2002)

When families are more involved in early childhood programs, they are likely to:

• Read to their children more
• Visit their children’s classrooms
• Network with other parents (Kreider, cited in Carder, 2002)