Involving Parents in Socialization Activities in Home Based Programs
Katherine Clifford, TASC Specialist, Region IX TASC, Development Associates, Inc., Walnut Creek, California
As a parent focused program carried out under the guidance of a home visitor, the Head Start Home Based option focuses on reinforcing the parents' skills as the primary educators of their children through home visits, group socialization's, and participation in all aspects of the Head Start program. It also focuses on the child's immediate environment and the influence it has on his or her total growth and development. Important aspects of a child's growth and development are the ability to interact with peers and to function in social settings. Thus, when parents observe their children interacting with other children at group socialization's, they can see and better understand the role they themselves play in their children's lives while enhancing their own social skills at the same time.
The following are some suggestions for securing and maintaining parent interest and involvement in group socialization activities:
- Parents and staff should plan group socialization's jointly.
- Socialization's should be scheduled at a time that supports the greatest participation by parents.
- Parents should be encouraged to interact with their children, and other children and adults, in the group socialization.
- Invite former home based parents to share their experiences with the new parents.
- Plan group socialization's in a variety of community settings.
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