Mag Coogan, ABC Club
At the ABC Club, Dunboyne, County Meath, partnership with parents is essential to our provision of quality practice. After 21 years evolving and improving practice, we have discovered, that parents, where possible, like to be included in their children’s lives and children likewise love having their parents involved.
At the ABC Club, Dunboyne, County Meath, partnership with parents is essential to our provision of quality practice. After 21 years evolving and improving practice, we have discovered, that parents, where possible, like to be included in their children’s lives and children likewise love having their parents involved.
Our garden and outdoor play is one of the many “ins” with parents. Every year we have family days where parents come and decorate our garden for Halloween and Christmas. These are a “get to know me” opportunity and many friendships have ensued. At Halloween we have an evening session so children get to experience playing outside in the dark, finishing with a singsong for families around the bonfire. The St. Patrick’s Day parade involves consultation and collaboration with the children and parents before we build the float together. This year we made a time machine to go back to save the dinosaurs. During the snow, we ran a snowperson competition and more recently a sunflower growing competition, where whole families got involved sharing their photos, which were displayed in the classroom.
Parents are a valuable contribution to any setting and using their talents and resources has benefited us immensely. Practitioners, parents and children have truly become a community of practice.
