Family

“Books/albums with pictures of children, their families and their communities are accessible to children” (Washington, 2017).

We have a family wall with pictures of all of the children’s families. It’s placed low on the wall at eye level for the children to look at. They look at all of the pictures and point asking, “What?” We talk about the people in the pictures and tell them which family is which. They are often attracted to the pets and will say “Dog!” I repeat and say something like, “Yes! It’s (Name) dog!” The first time I printed out the pictures they were too large so I saved all of the pictures and over a few weeks I created a book. To create the book/album for the children to look at, I cut down all of the pictures and pasted them onto colorful construction paper, then I laminated each page and punched holes in order to bind the book together. I put the book on our bookshelf to see what happens and the children noticed the album almost immediately. They enjoyed looking at the pictures of everyone’s families and asked questions like “What?” and “Who?”

“Maintains open communication with families” (Washington, 2017).

At our center we use Brightwheel to communicate with the families. It’s a productive way to talk with the families. It took me a minute to feel comfortable and confident posting on the platform. The director coached me on language and the co-teachers helped me with when/how to take pictures. At first I found it stressful finding the right time to take pictures and post. I respectfully ask my co-teachers if they are ok with being in the pictures and I will check-in with them to ask if they find the image appropriate to post. We also use the platform to communicate any accidents, trips, falls, bumps, and we have a good system for informing everyone in a respectable and considerate way. We find time to chat at drop off and pick up, it’s helpful to use email for the more involved questions and comments.

“Recommends activities families can do at home that support their child’s development” (Washington, 2017).

In our room the co-teachers take turns writing the weekly newsletter. This school year, at the end of the newsletter, I started including a list of ideas filled with ways the families can join in the fun at home. Here’s an example from a September 2025 newsletter:

“Try this at home, to carry these ideas into your family life, you might:

• Cook together by inviting your child to help wash fruit or stir ingredients.

• Choose a few toys to clean with your child using a washcloth and soapy water.

• Play pretend doctor with stuffed animals or dolls, using a toy kit or household items as tools.

• Take a family walk around your neighborhood and talk about the people and places that make up your own community.”

Online Resource: How To Communicate Effectively With Families?