Introduce
Establishing a balanced relationship with families must be prioritised from a practitioner’s first point of contact. This is the foundation for a partnership where both parents and practitioners can be valued and contribute their insight and experience of the child. Parents have specific knowledge about their own child and family unit. Practitioners may have a more general knowledge of child development which can also be applied. This is represented in the image below:
Strong parent-practitioner partnerships provide a solid foundation for supporting young children’s
outcomes. Early years practitioners are often trusted by parents as sources of information about child
development and parents frequently seek advice from them on issues such as sleeping routines,
behaviour management and meal times.
Develop
Empowering Families
A balanced relationship also allows for families to be empowered and learn how to advocate for their child. The aim is for parents to:
- understand their child’s strengths and needs
- gain the knowledge and skills to advocate for the services and support that their child might need
Listen to the video below, where Family Rights Group Panel members share what partnership means to them.
Reflect
Stop and Reflect: Take some time to think about the partnerships you have established with families in your role.
– How might you be mindful of the power dynamics within your professional relationships with families?
– Identify 3 ways where you can make conscious efforts to create balanced partnerships with the families you work with.