Guidelines for Parent Participation
Classroom Atmosphere: Poe-Co is a child's place. It is a place where each child is free to initiate their own activities and follow through their ideas. The teachers and parent helpers are extenders of a child's thoughts and experiences; their goal is to provide an atmosphere in which a child can develop a positive feeling about themselves and their abilities. Remember – EACH CHILD IS UNIQUE. Their talents, interests, and stage of development are different from every other child's.
The opportunity to participate in the classroom is an interesting part of a cooperative nursery program. A parent-helper is more than a body who watches for the safety of children and performs routine tasks. The parent-helper cooperates with the teacher in providing learning experiences for young children. The following guidelines may help you as you work with the children.
Children need boundaries or acceptable limits for behavior. The nursery school has three behavior guidelines within which the children are free to make decisions. They are the following:
Your child will be very excited to have you as a
parent-helper. Your work day is your special time together. If they stay
with you, let them. When they have made sure the other childre
If your child is a disruption, feel free to let the teacher or another parent handle the situation. Continue with your own activity.
Enjoy your work day. No one is judging you or your child. It is your time together.
The nursery program is not project oriented; a child does not need to produce a completed recognizable project. They are learning simply by dripping sand in free form patterns at the sandbox or manipulating clay at the art table. Such activities are their project.
Allow children to initiate their own activities. Observe them carefully to see when they may need a suggestion or some assistance.
Encourage a child to participate. When preparing the snack, let them set out the cups and napkins and help serve. They can then take pride in their accomplishment.
If a child needs help directing their attention to an activity, help them by inviting them to join you in a game or puzzle. However, if they are actively engaged in watching, let them. Watching is a form of participation and learning.
Don't discourage activities that may take many minutes of clean up. A castle built of many blocks is an absorbing creative task.
Do not clean up after children. Firmly state that the materials and equipment need to be put back in their proper places. If the task of cleaning up appears enormous to the child, say, “Let's clean this up together,” and then join in.
When speaking with children, use a soft voice; talk under the noise level. Your replies to their questions should be thoughtful. Converse with a child; don't talk down to them.
Say directions positively. Say, “Try turning the puzzle piece around,” rather than, “Don't put it in that way.”
Use both children's and teacher's names often.
When talking to a child, sit down or kneel to their height.
When a child masters a tricycle, they are learning. Reinforce their accomplishment by saying, “You can really ride that tricycle well.”
Give a child a choice only when you mean to give a choice. Say, “Sand is not for throwing; sand is for digging,” rather than “Will you stop throwing that sand?”
All class sessions follow a routine. Say, “It's time to join the group for a story,” rather than asking, “Do you want to join the group for a story?”
When you need to correct behavior, be fair and consistent. State what you want positively. When a child has an object in their hand and is on the climber, say, “I will hold the shovel while you are on the climber. You need both hands when you are climbing.”
Preparing Your Child for Nursery School: If this is your child's first nursery school experience:
Tell them nursery school is a pleasant place; they will meet other children and can join in many activities. Name some activities with which they may already be familiar and others that may be new to them.
On their first day at school, let them stay beside you. Most children enjoy having their parent nearby as they become familiar with new surroundings.
When you are ready to leave, tell your child good-bye. Tell them when you will return. Hug them and LEAVE. Do not return for a series of good-byes. Your child will become uncertain because of your uncertainty. Good-byes may be hard for the first week or longer, but you need to maintain your firmness.
Let the teacher know when you are leaving so she can be with your child if they need reassurance.
Pick your child up on time. They will expect you and many become anxious if you are late. If they were unhappy about your leaving, arrive ten minutes early for pick-up. That way your child will be reassured to see you among the first to arrive.
Let your child be themselves. Every child responds differently to new situations, to other children, and to adults.
Don't worry if your child is shy in a group, doesn't want to talk, hits another child in play, refuses to take turns, or cries. Do not apologize for their behavior in front of them.
Let your child stand and watch if that is what they want to do. Remember, watching is a form of participation.
Allow time for them to voluntarily tell you about what they have done during the nursery session before you ask, “Did you like the story at school?”