Preschoolers and Their Families
Preschoolers act, at times, like the toddlers they have so recently been, making it imperative that teachers consider interactions much like those of the earlier years. At the same time, the first step toward many years of formal schooling often begins in preschool or child care programs, and parents begin to have a different view of their interactions with the other adults in their children’s lives. It becomes important for schools to ensure parents that they are always truly welcome, not just officially as licensing agencies often require, and not only during scheduled conferences and on specific visiting days. When their children first go off to preschool, parents may, for the first time, tune in to their own fuzzy memories from childhood. These memories may be positive, but the opposite may also be true. In addition, the understanding of “developmentally appropriate practices” may well have changed in the intervening years. Good communication is essential for teachers, and this includes respectful listening to parents’ opinions. Accordingly, teachers should “listen to parents, seek to understand their goals and expectations for their children, and respect the family’s personal and cultural preferences” (Copple & Bredekamp, 2009, p. 182).