Parental Involvement

**This is a mini paper I wrote for my Early Childhood Degree. The class was Trends and Problems in EC ED during sophomore year at PBC.**

“I dreamed I stood in a studio and watched two sculptors there, the clay they used was a young child's mind and they finished it with care. One was a teacher; the tools she used were books and music and art; one a parent with a guiding hand and a gentle and loving heart. Day after day, the teacher toiled with a touch that was careful, deft and sure. While the parent labored by her side, and polished and smoothed it o'er” (qtd. Matton). It is important for all to realize that teachers are not the only people responsible for educating children. The parents play a very vital role in a child’s education and this paper will show just that.
Parents are known as the first educators of a child. This is just a common fact. The child is in care of the parent starting from conception. The parent takes time to teach their child to walk and talk. Most do this without really even thinking they have to. It’s just a joy to hear the child say “Momma” or “Dadda” for the first time. A lot of the times, the child learns just by seeing or hearing the parent doing it constantly.
The parent should not stop their involvement in education there, however. They are the ones responsible for choosing the school. A parent should take the time to look at different schools and choose the one they think will best suit their child. This task should not be taken lightly. They should decide what plan to try. This means some schools can do half day programs or whole day programs. The parent needs to know and plan what they want to try with the child when enrolling. Not only the program, but they should also decide if the child is ready or needs to wait. Not all children can start school as early as others. The parent needs to have some semblance of their child’s capabilities.
After choosing the school, the parent should not back off. The parent needs to be there for the child the whole time the child goes through their educational process. The parent, like in Matton’s article, should be there to “polish” what the child is being taught in schools (Matton). Matton also argues that parental involvement starts before school and long after school (Matton). Molly Kreider argues, like many psychologist, that a child whose parents are active in their education do better in school (Kreider). Does this mean the child will be a straight-A student? Of course not, but the child will have a better chance at making the grade if the parent is helping and coaching along.
Now that the importance of involvement is understood, the parent needs to know how to be involved. The main way is through contact with the teacher to see how the child is doing. The main way this done is through parent-teacher conferences. There is also the phone. Parents can call the teacher. The worse thing the teacher can say is, “Sorry, I do not have time to discuss this now.” The other way a parent can be involved is by keeping track with what the child is learning. It can be easier to do this is elementary and up because the child has homework, but the same thing needs to be done in pre-school. Normally the child will be excited about what their learning and want to share if the parent will only listen.
Parental involvement is so vitally important. It helps strengthen a child not only academically but also emotionally. It “polishes” what the teacher is working to teach and it shows the child they are loved. So, parents need to show the child they are loved and be involved in their education. Remember, it takes two sculptors to help shape a strong mind in a child- the teacher and the parent(s). Parents need to be involved.

Works Cited
1. Kreider, Holly. “Getting Parents ‘Ready’ for Kindergarten: The Role of Early Childhood Education.” Harvard Family Reseach Project, April 2002. Web. 13 September 2010.
2. Matton, Kyla. “‘Unity’ of Home & School?” Lifestyle: Parental Involvement in Educating Children, 15 October 2009. Web. 13 September 2010.