Family and Community Engagement:

Seek Multiple Perspectives

Breadcrumb trail:

Uncover and experience the perspectives of children, families, and colleagues.

When your work is informed by multiple perspectives, you have richer experiences, build stronger relationships, and deepen mutual understandings. Listening to others who have different perspectives can nudge you to reconsider your daily practice and worldview, and recognize and challenge your biases. They can also lead to shared inquiry. Finding areas in which you can collaborate with others is a great way to uncover and experience different perspectives. With CompSAT by your side, you may be inspired to seek the perspectives of the children, families, and colleagues in your program and beyond.

Two teachers discussing issues outside.

Early childhood authors, Margie Carter and Deb Curtis, remind us that, regardless of program type,

"each day families have a significant transition to make as they entrust their children into a care and educational setting outside their control."

— (Curtis and Carter, 2008)

Try This!

Study each of the photos below and use these questions for reflection.

A father writing his child's name in the sign-in sheet.
A father writing his child's name in the sign-in sheet.
A mother and child hug during pick-up.
A mother and child hug during pick-up.
A mother, child, and teacher at drop-off.
A mother, child, and teacher at drop-off.
A mother and daughter separate - photo 1 of 3.
A mother and daughter separate - photo 1 of 3.
A mother and daughter separate - photo 2 of 3.
A mother and daughter separate - photo 2 of 3.
A mother and daughter separate - photo 3 of 3.
A mother and daughter separate - photo 3 of 3.
  • What do you know about the daily process each family enrolled in your program goes through as they arrive and leave each day?
  • What do you think the experience is like from their point of view?
  • How can you make the transition easier and more reassuring for them?

Watch the following scene of a grandmother bringing her grandchild back to the infant room after being sick the day before.

  • How did the caregiver ease the transition for the grandmother and child?
  • What did you notice about her body language, as well as her words?

Use this template to record your observations, thoughts, and feelings.  Download the Template

Deepen Your Understanding

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Deepen your understanding building collaboration with families by reviewing Performance Area 2, Topics: Family collaboration and Strategies for family collaboration in the CA ECE Competencies. Scroll to page 40.

Can you find other places in this competency area that address your interests and needs?

Download the California ECE Competencies

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies