Guiding the Guides
- Catherine Addor
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
Guiding the Guides: Why Schools Must Prioritize Parent Engagement in Early Childhood Education
In early childhood education, we often talk about “school readiness.” We measure a child’s ability to recognize letters, hold a pencil, follow directions, or sit in a circle. What if actual readiness starts before a child walks through the classroom door? What if the real secret to early learning success isn’t just in the hands of educators but in how schools empower and engage families?
The truth is this: when schools guide parents with intention and purpose from the very beginning, children thrive.
1. Parents Are the Constant: Let’s Equip Them
Children may spend a few hours a day in early childhood settings, but their parents and caregivers are their lifelong learning partners. When schools invest in guiding families, helping them understand developmental milestones, sharing strategies to support learning at home, and building their confidence as partners, we extend the classroom into the living room. That’s where deep, lasting growth happens.
2. It’s Not About More Work: It’s About More Partnership
Guiding parents doesn’t mean piling on obligations or expecting them to become full-time teachers. It means listening, connecting, and co-creating a shared vision for each child’s learning journey. Schools can start by:
Hosting workshops that explain early childhood development in accessible language
Creating “learning at home” toolkits with simple, play-based activities
Offering regular check-ins that highlight strengths and progress—not just problems
Using home languages and culturally relevant examples to build trust
3. Early Guidance Prevents Later Gaps
We know that early learning matters. But so does early connection. Families who are guided early are more likely to remain engaged throughout their child’s K–12 experience. They know how to navigate systems, advocate effectively, and support their child at home. When this foundation is strong, children enter elementary school not only ready to learn but surrounded by adults ready to support that learning every step of the way.
4. When We Empower Families, We Advance Equity
Early childhood programs can be a powerful lever for equity only if families are brought into the process as true partners. Many families face barriers: language, work schedules, past negative school experiences, or a simple lack of information. Schools that are proactive in outreach, meeting families where they are, not where we expect them to be, create more inclusive, accessible learning environments.
Guiding families early is an investment in equity, in trust, and in every child’s right to succeed.
5. Build the Bridge—Then Walk It Together
The most successful early childhood programs are not just instructional; they
are relational. They build bridges between families and schools, ensuring no one is left on the other side. This isn’t a one-time effort. It’s an ongoing commitment to partnering with the people who know children best, their parents and caregivers.
Let’s stop asking if parents are ready to support learning and start asking:
How are we supporting them?
What tools are we giving them?
What kind of relationship are we building together?
Schools don’t need to have all the answers. They do need to show families that they belong. That they matter. That they are seen. In early childhood education, it’s not just the child we’re shaping; it’s the village. Schools are close to the heart of that village.
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