Partnering with Parents to Support Children’s Learning at Home

*Updated May 2025

The pandemic years brought about significant changes in how we approach early childhood education, with one of the most notable shifts being the increased involvement of parents in their children’s learning at home. With schools having been closed and childcare centers operating under strict limitations, parents took on an expanded role in their child’s education. During this period, childcare centers became essential in providing both resources and strategies to help families foster their children’s development. Now, as we have moved away from the height of the pandemic and many centers have returned to regular operations, the need to maintain a strong connection between school and home remains as critical as ever for supporting children’s growth and well-being.

As we reflect on the lasting impact of those early pandemic years, it’s clear that the partnership between early childhood educators and families is crucial. Through ongoing family engagement, we can ensure that children’s learning continues beyond the classroom. This collaboration, built on empathy and understanding, allows educators and families to create a seamless, high-quality learning environment that nurtures children’s development—both intellectually and emotionally. However, as modern parents balance increasingly complex lives—often managing full-time careers and household responsibilities—early childhood educators must approach parental involvement with care and consideration. The 2021-22 Lillio (formerly HiMama) Parent Satisfaction Report revealed that many parents are working 40-50 hours a week, with a significant portion experiencing burnout. With these challenges in mind, it’s essential that educators offer support in ways that empower families without overwhelming them.

The Importance of Family Engagement

Family involvement plays a crucial role in a young child’s learning journey. When parents are actively engaged in their child’s education, it strengthens the connection between home and school, fostering a deeper sense of security, confidence, and belonging for the child. Positive relationships between educators and families create an environment where children feel safe to explore and take risks in their learning. As children witness and model these positive interactions, they develop a stronger sense of trust and connection to their classroom, which encourages emotional growth and a willingness to engage. For this involvement to be truly effective, it must be purposeful, compassionate, and mindful of the demands on parents’ time and energy.

At the heart of fostering parent engagement is the need for building trust. A strong partnership between parents and educators is essential for creating a supportive environment that prioritizes the well-being of the child. When both parties work together, children benefit from consistent guidance and encouragement, whether at school or at home. But this partnership is only effective when it is based on mutual respect and understanding. So how can we ensure that families feel empowered to actively participate in their child’s learning, without adding additional stress to their already packed schedules? Here are some strategies that early childhood educators can implement to foster family involvement and create a seamless bridge between home and school.

Aligning Approaches Between Home and School

One of the first steps in creating effective family engagement is to align expectations and strategies between the home and the early learning environment. While both educators and families have the best interests of the child at heart, it’s easy for miscommunication or assumptions to occur. Before effective learning can take place at home, there must be an open discussion where educators and parents can align their approaches, philosophies, and expectations for the child’s education.

This alignment can be achieved through regular parent-teacher conferences, whether in person or virtually, where educators and parents can discuss the child’s temperament, learning style, and the goals they hope to achieve. During these discussions, educators can share specific strategies that have proven successful in the classroom and how parents and other family members can implement them at home. This approach helps to create consistency in the child’s learning experience, reinforcing the value of education both at school and at home.

Share Information and Strategies Transparently

As educators, we often have the advantage of formal training in child development and educational strategies in the early years. However, parents are the experts on their own children. For a child to thrive, it’s essential that families are equipped with the right tools and knowledge to support their child’s learning at home. This requires transparency from educators when sharing strategies and methods used in the classroom.

By offering practical, child-specific strategies, educators can give parents the tools they need to create a supportive learning environment at home. For instance, a child might respond better to visual cues, such as pictographs or songs, to help them stay focused or transition between times of day. Sharing these specific strategies not only empowers parents but also ensures that the child’s learning remains consistent, regardless of whether they are in the classroom or at home. When parents are armed with effective tools, they can actively participate in their child’s learning and support their educational journey in a meaningful way.

Embrace Technology for Communication

In today’s digital age, many parents are familiar with the convenience of technology, and early childhood educators can leverage this to improve communication and engagement. Digital communication has become the preferred method for sharing information in real time, especially given the demanding schedules of modern parents. Whether through childcare management software such as Lillio, email, or social media, technology provides an efficient and accessible means to build relationships and stay connected with families.

By utilizing digital tools, educators can send parents updates about their child’s progress, share learning resources, and even demonstrate how to implement classroom strategies at home. Lillio, for example, can be used to share videos or photos of learning experiences, helping parents visualize how to support their child’s learning environment at home. These tools not only make communication easier but also show respect for the increased demands on parents’ time. Quick messages or photos can often be more effective than in-person meetings or phone calls, allowing parents to stay involved without adding to their already busy schedules.

Encourage Feedback and Two-Way Communication

A key element of fostering strong family partnerships is creating an open channel for feedback. While educators are seen as the experts in early childhood education, it’s important to remember that families are experts in their children and they bring their own valuable insights and knowledge to the table. Inviting parents to share feedback about how their child is progressing at home helps ensure that the strategies being used are effective and responsive to the child’s needs.

Encouraging two-way communication also strengthens the relationship between educators and families, as it empowers parents to take ownership of their child’s learning. This collaborative approach allows both parties to problem-solve challenges together, making it easier to adjust strategies or try new approaches when necessary. Regular feedback loops ensure that both educators and parents are working together to support the child’s educational journey. Importantly, this process should always be framed as a learning opportunity for both sides, where feedback is received constructively and without personal judgment.

Revisit and Restructure Learning Outcomes as Needed

As children grow and develop, their learning needs may change, requiring adjustments to the strategies and goals set for them. Regularly revisiting and restructuring learning outcomes ensures that children’s education remains relevant and responsive to their evolving needs. There are many factors that can affect a child’s learning at home, such as changes in their home environment or shifts in their emotional development. For example, a new sibling or a parent traveling for work can impact a child’s behavior and learning patterns. When these changes occur, educators should be proactive in reassessing the learning strategies being used at home and making any necessary adjustments.

This ongoing reflection helps families feel supported in their decision-making, knowing that they can turn to educators for guidance and that their child’s needs will be met with flexibility and care. Ultimately, when learning outcomes are regularly revisited and adapted, children can continue to thrive, and families will feel confident in their role as active participants in their child’s education.

Support Parents with Resources

Supporting parents with at-home learning activities is essential in creating a seamless bridge between the classroom and home. Early childhood educators can play a key role in guiding parents by providing accessible resources and school activities for outside school hours.

One effective way to share educational content is by using digital tools like Lillio, which allow educators to easily share daily lesson plans and activity suggestions with parents. This platform provides a convenient space for parents to log-on and see what engaging and high-quality learning experiences their child is engaging in and what they seem most interested in, such as simple crafts, games, or sensory exercises. Parents can then apply this learning into their home routine with their child. By providing these resources in a user-friendly format, parents are empowered to support their child’s learning without feeling overwhelmed.

Educators can also equip parents and caregivers with easy-to-follow activity printouts, complete with any materials needed, step-by-step instructions, and clear learning objectives, all designed to be easily implemented at home.

Recommending age-appropriate books or songs is another great way for educators to enrich children’s learning outside the classroom. By curating lists of books that align with what children are exploring in class—whether it’s stories about animals, colors, or emotions—educators provide parents with tools to create learning moments during reading time. 

Conclusion

The partnership between early childhood educators and families plays a critical role in supporting children’s development and bridging the gap between school and home. By fostering meaningful relationships, aligning strategies, embracing technology, and encouraging open communication, we can create a learning environment that supports young learners, both academically and emotionally. By creating strong family partnerships and providing continuous support, we can help children navigate their learning journey and reach their full potential.

By streamlining communication and providing real-time updates, Lillio enables childcare centers to build trust and improve overall parent satisfaction. With more timely and transparent communication, parents feel more connected and confident in their child’s care, leading to stronger partnerships and a more positive experience for everyone involved. Curious to learn more? Request a demo today and see how Lillio’s Parent Communication Software feature can transform your childcare center today.