Hi you need to specify an age group of children - the age range that you have contact with?
If you recognise that parents have the greatest knowledge about thier child and children you are in the best position to support their understanding of child development and the way in which children develop - emotionally, physically, intellectually and where a parent can go if they are concerned or curious about their child's development.
What links do you currently have with parents that enable you to support them and by doing so, support thier child?
Being a 'demonstrate criteria you may find it's observed by your assessor when they next visit.
This research will help find out more about parenting and children's early experiences:
http://peal.org.uk/about-us/links/pe...rch-links.aspx
Every parent matters 2007
Ireland's Aistear parenting partnerships - an excellent read
The reading will enable you to identify some of the strategies that happen in your setting, which might include ideas on sharing, providing and listening to the information that parents provide and strategies such as:
- Organising meetings and group activities
- Inviting feedback from parents - ask for their ideas, suggestions
- Use daily routines to chat with parents about their child - discover happenings, interests, culture and traditions
- Share details of the early years framework that a setting has in place
- Use a notice board to maintain contact for news and display boards to celebrate children's participation.
- Know about costs, fees and funding to support children's attendance
- Identify any parenting support programmes available locally - http://www8.triplep.net/
- Provide a single point of contact so parents are aware thy can approah the setting at any time and the setting will endeavour to support them in any way they can.
- Know about a child and families home learning environment - source places that can offer additional stimuli in homes eg. library loans, toy lending, sensory supplies, growth and development charts - height, healthy foods, teeth growth & loss
- Distribute paper based and email news that broaden knowledge on children's expected stages of development, safety at home, health & nutrition, dental and hair care, behaviour, community events and local services eg tourist attractions, transport ..
- Know referal procedures to support parents in the accessing of professional services - contating GP surgries, health visitors, social servies, speech, language & communiation
I hope this helps a little more