Perspective on Working In Partnership With Families †Free Samples

Question: Discuss about the Perspective on Working In Partnership With Families. Answer: Introduction Early childhood care and education have a profound impact on the long-term development, educational outcomes and well-being in the life spans of children across Australia. The quality of a childhood program is determined by the relationship between the educators and the parents or family in educating and caring for the young children. It must be recognized that families are the most influential teachers that children encounter in their lives and thus play a pivotal role in shaping the future of their lives. It takes a village to raise a child.(Anderson Johnson 1994, p.6). This legendary African proverb that means that to raise children, it takes more than loving parents, the community as a whole must be committed to their well-being. To provide high-quality education and care, it is essential to have positive partnerships between the childhood educators and families, working together for mutual good and benefit of the children. Partnerships entail establishing of community where everyone including children with developmental delay or with a disability can make a valuable contribution and have a sense of belonging. There are different types of family setups which good working partnerships need to be developed and nurtured by the early childhood educators (Reichow, Boyd, Barton Odom, 2016, p.12). Collaborative partnerships This involves communication and cooperation between family members and educators working together with a common goal. Collaborative partnerships are important for various reasons; respect for the family makes the childs identity stronger while enhancing their learning and giving them a sense of belonging, families bring more insights that offer a better understanding of the child as well as their community and culture (Baker Manfredi-Petitt, 2004, p.2). Each and every family may be unique in its own different ways making it difficult to form partnerships but will have common attributes. They must nurtured in an environment that is: There must be mutual trust and honesty among the stakeholders There must exist respectful free communication with each other Partners must be involved in shared decision-making Roles and responsibilities of each must clearly be defined Value of each others knowledge and experience of each child Must be willing to negotiate and compromise Tension and conflict resolution must be one of the commitments Practices that establish and strengthen collaborative partnerships Procedures, policies and day to day practices must be geared towards giving priority to partnerships with families; and create a sense of respect and welcoming at the first point of interaction with the family and let them know how keen you are to know the needs and wants of their child. Make sure that during enrollment and orientation procedures, communication about partnerships takes a center stage and offer various ways for families to contribute and get involved in the service while reflecting on the ways to foster partnerships (Porter, 2008,p.12). Conclusion When caring and respectful relationship are established with families and children by educators, they work, develop curriculum, learning experiences that are relevant to the childrens local context. This in turn gradually expands the understanding and knowledge of the world by the children. The partnerships must have a shared aims or goalswhat is best for the child. References Anderson, H., Johnson, S. B. W. (1994).Regarding children: A new respect for childhood and families. Louisville, Ky: Westminster John Knox Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=Hz5T4H6GoXACprintsec=frontcoverdq=Regading+children:+A+new+respect+for+childhood+and+%09familieshl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjy-u750e3WAhUJerwKHQQlDy4Q6AEIJjAA#v=onepageq=Regarding%20children%3A %20A%20new%20respect%20for%20childhood%20and%20%09familiesf=false Baker, A. C., Manfredi-Petitt, L. (2004). Relationships, the heart of quality care.Washington,DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children. Retrieved from https://store.naeyc.org/sites/store/files/TOC/156.pdf In Reichow, B., In Boyd, B. A., In Barton, E. E., In Odom, S. L. (2016).Handbook of earlychildhood special education. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.ke/books/about/Handbook_of_Early_Childhood_Special_Educ.html?id=heR6DAAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoversource=kp_read_buttonredir_esc=y#v =onepageqf=false Early Childhood Intervention Australia Code of Ethics. Available at https://www.ecia.org.au/information.htm