Parent Involvement in Physical Education

Parent or family involvement is a process of allowing parents and family members to use their knowledge and skills for the benefit of themselves, their children and the school. The home is the child’s first school. Whatever occurs at home influences the child’s learning and development. 

The teacher’s role is to assist parents by letting them learn about child development, giving them meaningful activities that they can use to teach their children at home and providing them support as the child’s first teachers. Supporting parents and family members to become better people is beneficial for children and it also helps them to be successful in school and life (Morrison, 2003).

1. Participate

Family members who are involved in their children’s education can collaborate with the children, involve other families to classroom participation, give useful input in program policy and strengthen the relationship of the whole community. They provide knowledge and materials that might not be available elsewhere. 

2. Volunteer

When family members join as classroom volunteers, they help the teacher to do more. They can also assist the children in excursions in the community (Feeney, 2010). When family members join as volunteers in school they gain opportunities of learning ways to guide their children’s growth and development. They can observe their children and learn about their participation in an out-of-home environment. They gain a better understanding of the curriculum which they can apply in their own homes. They feel more competent and needed as they get involved actively in the school program (Feeney, 2010).

The children benefit when family members join the program because they have an opportunity to see their family members play a new role. They also become familiarized with adults who have different skills and ways of relating to people. They observe adults interacting with one another in a respectful and meaningful manner. There is more attention given to the children. The children experience a richer curriculum (Feeney, 2010).

3. Show and tell

Allowing children to bring books and manipulatives at home builds home-school partnerships. Family involvement is beneficial to the children, school and staff because they contribute their time and materials which create positive results for everyone (Arce, 2000).

4. Encourage

Adults have a significant role in the development of children’s physical and health development. Children are encouraged by adults to have a healthy lifestyle and proper diet. 

Nutrition plays a basic part in a child’s physical development. Children with good nutrition can actively participate in physical activities with greater enjoyment and better sense of well being. Parents can encourage the children to eat a proper diet by eating healthy meals as a family. The parents can serve as a positive role model for their children by showing them proper eating habits (Seifert, 2014).

5. Play

Children depend on adults for physical play which enhance gross motor skills. Parents can play sports activities with their children such as family bike rides or swimming. 

The community can make physical activities fun and exciting for children. The community can promote physical activities by showing physical activity messages that encourage a healthy lifestyle. The community can also work with schools and other community groups to conduct special physical activity events (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2009).

6. Share

Parent and community involvement plays a significant part in children’s physical development. It allows the parents, family members and the community to share their knowledge, skills and resources to the children. The teacher supports the parents in their role as their children’s first teachers. 

References:

Arce, E. (2000). Curriculum for young children: An introduction. New York: Delmar.
Feeney, S., Moravcik, E., Nolte, S., Christensen, D. (2010). Who am I in the lives of children?: An introduction to early childhood. (8th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

Morrison, G. (2003). Fundamentals of early childhood education. (3rd ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.
Seifert, C. (2014).  Adult’s Role Relative to a Child’s Physical Development. Retrieved from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/adults-role-relative-childs-physical-development-2984.html on January 4, 2014. 
US Department of Health and Human Services (2009). Youth Physical Activity: The Role of Communities. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/toolkit/factsheet_pa_guidelines_communities.pdf on January 3, 2014.