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Parenthood is a demanding task that most wholeheartedly goes into. However, just because you volunteer to be one doesn’t mean you’re well-equipped to play the part. Parenthood is one complex journey most won’t get right the first time. It’s encompassed with challenges and setbacks that significantly influence children’s development and future successes.
This is precisely why parental involvement in early childhood is crucial.
How Are Parents Involved in Their Child’s Life?
After carrying them for nine months, parent involvement in early childhood only begins the moment children are out and experiencing the world. From the moment they’re born, children already rely on their parents. Whether for the food they eat or the materials they possess, parents are essentially the foundation of children’s lives, the benchmark for whether they will grow well.
As they say, “There are no bad children, only bad parents,” summing up the importance of parent’s presence and participation throughout their lives.
Often considered as sponges, children absorb what they’re exposed to, primarily learning through observations and demonstrations. Hence, parent involvement in early childhood is everything. It’s crucial to not only ensure children stay safe but also that they’re introduced to only the right things and protected from the contrary. This ensures they’re geared toward the right path of development.
For first-time parents, this can be tricky. With everything on the table, guiding children and providing them with only the best can be intimidating and challenging. Fortunately, numerous materials are catered to help them achieve this, one of whom is Kristina Orliczky.
A Book About Parents’ Presence and Engagement
Beyond showing how children learn active learning through storytelling, Kristina Orliczky’s Mona’s Mitten encourages parents to be more involved with their children. While it fronts as a book to get children exercising, it also doubles as a reminder for parents to be present. This isn’t only limited to motivating their kids to be active and accompanying them during such activities. Instead, it tackles more profound parental participation by ensuring they’re there throughout children’s development.
Parents are the pillars of children’s existence.
Society has never failed to encourage them to be present throughout their children’s growth. While a fraction of this does depend on children’s competence and individual capacity to grow, parent involvement in early childhood holds a consequential position in their overall existence.
Why Is Parent Involvement in Early Childhood Important?
Parent involvement in early childhood has been established as a critical factor in child success, transcending other factors such as economic status and background. This is precisely why, time and time again, they’re encouraged to include themselves and nurture a positive relationship with their children.
Children can be a handful. Let them off their parents’ sight one second, and most of them would definitely do whatever’s on top of their minds. Their mischievous and often chaotic nature can prompt parents to think of ways to evade being around them. Whether it’s for a few hours of peace or simply to get a breather and rest, most parents dream of being away from their children.
This is a valid desire. It can get stuffy being with children all day, every day. However, when it comes to their development, there should be no other option than their involvement.
This Prompts Better Relationship
Aside from keeping them safe, there are countless benefits reaped from parent involvement in early childhood. Their support is most integral during this period, where development can be sensitive, and children are susceptible to the wrong behavior and overall models.
Parents who are tuned in to what’s happening with their children establish a stronger emotional connection with them, further growing their parent-child relationship. Regardless of how unnecessary it can be, their presence feeds children the idea that they matter. Their parents genuinely care for them and show this by being there for them. Presence is everything. It’s a simple thing to do, but its impact on children’s development is consequential.
This Creates a Stronger Learning Foundation
When parents are involved in every aspect of their children’s lives, they help create stronger foundations for them. One of which is in their education.
Parent involvement in early childhood commonly manifests in their support and guidance at school. And in reinforcing concepts in school at home, parents forge a stronger foundation for learning. Not to mention, parental involvement in children’s education extends their experiences in the classroom to outside, at home. A parent who’s present understands what their child goes through at school. Hence, they become more compassionate and able to help their children in areas that need improvement.
Parents have a narrowed and more intimate connection with their children than educators. This ensures their guidance is best suited to their child.
This Enhances Their Social-Emotional Development
Parent involvement in early childhood ensures parents are their children’s primary role models. This means they have better control over what kids learn and how they would behave with others. By demonstrating how they should react to certain situations, parents effectively influence children’s behaviors and social characteristics. Parents can reinforce and reprimand their children to ensure they have the right social and emotional traits.
If you’re interested in reading more of Kristina Orliczky’s story, grab a copy of Mona’s Mitten now!
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I believe every parent should be involved in the rearing of the child, because it ultimately defines how their relationship will be in the future.