1. Integrate strategies that support diversity, equity and inclusion

1.a. Describe variations in family structures, beliefs and values
1.b. Describe how a family’s culture influences their values, perceptions, beliefs, celebrations and child-rearing practices
1.c. Analyze the influence of your own family experiences on your perceptions and attitudes toward diverse families and on your caregiving practices
1.d. Explain why teachers have responsibility to understand family life and how it impacts teaching
1.e. Outline the importance of involving families in the development and implementation of celebrations and activities that respect their traditions and values

2. Analyze family patterns and trends

2.a. Develop a definition of family that is inclusive and diverse
2.b. Explore various family structures (e.g., nuclear family, one-parent family, foster family, same-sex parents family)
2.c. Describe trends affecting families
2.d. Analyze circumstances in families’ lives that influence child and family members’ actions
2.e. Explore literature and classroom resources related to diverse family patterns and trends
2.f. Identify circumstances in families’ lives that influence child and family members’ actions
2.g. Analyze common sources of relationship tensions between families and early childhood educators

3. Identify strategies to strengthen and support families

3.a. Define factors that protect families against stress
3.b. Analyze factors that protect families against stress (e.g., Strengthening Families Protective Framework)
3.c. Identify strategies to support families in developing protective factors
3.d. Assess program practices in supporting and strengthening families in the protective factors
3.e. Analyze a strength-based approach to working with families
3.f. Explain how trauma informed care supports children and families
3.g. Analyze factors that protect families against stress
3.h. Examine program practices in supporting and strengthening families in the protective factors

4. Analyze effective communication strategies

4.a. Utilize effective communication techniques
4.b. Identify barriers to effective communication
4.c. Recognize how personal patterns affect communication style
4.d. Identify strategies for conflict resolution
4.e. Develop strategies for communicating with families in ways that are culturally sensitive and respect the family’s home language and communication styles
4.f. Explore the responsible use of technology to communicate with families
4.g. Identify strategies for conflict resolution

5. Discover strategies for developing respectful and reciprocal relationships with families

5.a. Identify strategies for initial encounters with children and families
5.b. Identify techniques for building cooperative partnerships with families
5.c. Recognize the progression in teacher-family relationships
5.d. Analyze barriers to teacher-family relationships
5.e. Analyze common sources of tension between families and teachers

6. Analyze strategies to promote family engagement in early childhood education programs

6.a. Identify a range of levels of family engagement (from notes home to parent boards)
6.b. Recognize the barriers to effective family engagement
6.c. Identify strategies that promote and sustain meaningful family engagement
6.d. Prepare a plan to promote and sustain family engagement
6.e. Demonstrate strategies for communicating with families in ways that are culturally sensitive and respect the family’s home language and communication styles

7. Outline formats for meeting with families in their contexts

7.a. Identify strategies to conduct successful informal and formal family-teacher meetings
7.b. Recognize the purpose and goals of family-teacher conferences
7.c. Examine how home visits are used in a variety of community agencies
7.d. Recognize the variety of purposes and goals of home visits
7.e. Identify strategies to conduct a successful home visit
7.f. Examine how home visits are used in a variety of community agencies
7.g. Recognize the purpose and goals of family-teacher conferences
7.h. Identify strategies to conduct a successful family-teacher conference

8. Advocate for children and families

8.a. Describe your role as a child and family advocate
8.b. Explore public policy that affects children and families
8.c. Examine the role of public policy
8.d. Identify a range of advocacy strategies
8.e. Apply advocacy strategies to address a specific need or issue

9. Identify community resources that provide a range of services for children and families

9.a. Describe the types of services needed by diverse families
9.b. Analyze a broad range of services provided by local community organizations
9.c. Develop a collection of resource agencies
9.d. Describe how to match local services to the needs of a family