Ways I can value and support parents

1. Have a warm relationship with each parent and with other members of the child’s family.

   Y

   N

   *

    
2. Keep information about children and families confidential.

   Y

   N

   *

    
3. Show respect for families’ points of view.

   Y

   N

   *

    
4. Make an effort to honor families’ special requests for their children.

   Y

   N

   *

    
5. Encourage parents to share skills, talents, and traditions in the program.

   Y

   N

   *

    
6. Show appreciation to parents for participating in the program.

   Y

   N

   *

    
7. Encourage fathers and other male family members to get involved.

   Y

   N

   *

    
8. Encourage parents to attend child development, parenting, and self-improvement conferences, workshops, or trainings.

   Y

   N

   *

    
9. Encourage parents to have input into decisions about the program.

   Y

   N

   *

    

Ways I can facilitate friendships and mutual support

1. Introduce parents to one another.

   Y

   N

   *

    
2. Connect parents who have same-age children, similar interests, and like circumstances, such as those who speak the same language.

   Y

   N

   *

    
3. Plan ways for parents to come together, meet new people, and enjoy a sense of community. Ex: Periodic events (family fun nights), celebrations or graduations, field trips, special events for dads, etc.

   Y

   N

   *

    
4. Reach out to isolated parents: Call or send a note home, personally invite them to activities, connect them with resources.

   Y

   N

   *

    
5. Model friendly behavior: Greet children and families, include all children and families in events, help resolve issues among parents, promote understanding of family differences.

   Y

   N

   *

    
6. Read about ways to increase family engagement in the program.

   Y

   N

   *

    
7. Participate in educational/training opportunities about ways to engage parents in the program.

   Y

   N

   *

    

Ways I can strengthen parenting

1. Talk with families about the program’s child guidance practices.

   Y

   N

   *

    
2. Explain why physical punishment is not allowed by anyone in the program, including parents and family members.

   Y

   N

   *

    
3. Explain why verbal punishment (yelling and name calling) is not allowed by anyone in the program, including parents and family members.

   Y

   N

   *

    
4. Explain the child guidance techniques you model.

   Y

   N

   *

    
5. Model warm and positive interactions with children.

   Y

   N

   *

    
6. Use appropriate child guidance techniques.

   Y

   N

   *

    
7. Learn about families expectations and practices about parenting.

   Y

   N

   *

    
8. Discuss parenting and child development issues whenever a parent asks for information or appears to need support.

   Y

   N

   *

    
9. Discuss parenting and child development issues in a non-judgmental way.

   Y

   N

   *

    
10. Share information with families through books, brochures, opportunities for families to come together, postings on bulletin boards or newsletters, and take-home materials.

    Y

    N

    *

     
11. Encourage parents to observe in the program.

    Y

    N

    *

     
12. Encourage parents to discuss guidance challenges they may have at home.

    Y

    N

    *

     
13. Provide information about age-appropriate expectations for children’s behavior.

    Y

    N

    *

     
14. Provide information about recognizing and reinforcing appropriate behavior.

    Y

    N

    *

     
15. Provide information about alternate ways to respond to inappropriate behavior.

    Y

    N

    *

     
16. Provide information about ways parents can encourage children to express their emotions appropriately at home.

    Y

    N

    *

     
17. Provide information about ways parents can encourage children to practice positive social skills at home.

    Y

    N

    *

     

Ways I can facilitate the social & emotional development of children

1. Recognize feelings and name them.

   Y

   N

   *

    
2. Model how to express emotions appropriately, problem solve, and treat others with respect and kindness.

   Y

   N

   *

    
3. Encourage children to express feelings through words, artwork, expressive play, and actions.

   Y

   N

   *

    
4. Encourage children to observe and listen to the feelings of others.

   Y

   N

   *

    
5. Encourage children to name their feelings and solve problems together.

   Y

   N

   *

    
6. Encourage children to form friendships, use respectful language, and respect differences.

   Y

   N

   *

    
7. Help families understand social and emotional development by informing them of the meaning of social and emotional development.

   Y

   N

   *

    
8. Help families understand social and emotional development by informing them of the importance of social and emotional development throughout childhood.

   Y

   N

   *

    
9. Help families understand social and emotional development by providing opportunities to discuss social and emotional issues within a cultural context (e.g., at what age do I expect children to dress or feed themselves?).

   Y

   N

   *

    
10. Help families understand social and emotional development by giving parents ideas about how to promote social and emotional development at home.

    Y

    N

    *

     

Ways I can link families to services and opportunities

1. Talk with parents about their interests, skills, needs, and goals for themselves and their children.

   Y

   N

   *

    
2. Talk with parents about resources, websites, and community opportunities that may help them continue to achieve their goals.

   Y

   N

   *

    
3. Encourage families to share information about community resources with each other.

   Y

   N

   *

    
4. Provide access to up-to-date information about the resources and services that are available in the community.

   Y

   N

   *

    

Ways I can respond to family crises

1. Develop a personal relationship with each family.

   Y

   N

   *

    
2. Let parents know they can turn to you in times of crisis by listening, showing concern, sharing some of your own personal concerns or desires.

   Y

   N

   *

    
3. Share materials and policies when families enroll in the program.

   Y

   N

   *

    
4. Respond proactively to signs of parent or family distress by expressing your concern and offering help.

   Y

   N

   *

    
5. Be available to parents if they need to talk.

   Y

   N

   *

    
6. Offer to connect the family to needed resources.

   Y

   N

   *

    
7. Participate in training opportunities about ways to respond to families in crisis.

   Y

   N

   *

    

Adapted from Center for the Study of Social Policy (n.d.). Strengthening Families Self-Assessments. https://cssp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CENTER-BASED-EARLY-CARE-AND-EDUCATION-PROGRAM-SELF-ASSESSMENT.pdf