Parent partnerships are an essential factor in every successful early childhood program. Effective communication is key to developing and sustaining a family-centered model that fosters thriving relationships with the most significant people in the lives of children in a child care setting. In this comprehensive, practical guide, Janis Keyser shows teachers and providers how to use proven communication strategies to connect to and encourage the involvement of parents and other family members.

A family-centered approach engages the whole family uint as education and guidance partners both at home and in the child care providers to adapt the principles and practices of this model to their particular program.

Among the communication tools and strategies covered in depth to help keep family members involved in a child's care and education are:

• newsletters
• bulletin boards
• parent conferences
• special events
• family-to-family support networks