Family Engagement Models

The term family engagement models refers to the various approaches to engaging families in early childhood education settings. Family engagement is typically defined as a reciprocal partnership between families and programs focused on supporting children’s healthy development and learning. Research has shown that family engagement contributes not only to children’s developmental growth and early learning but also to improved parent and family outcomes. Family engagement is considered a key dimension of early childhood education quality. However, research has identified gaps between the desire to engage families and actual practices in early education programs. Various models have been developed to guide and support efforts to understand and implement family engagement. This entry provides a brief history and definition of family engagement models, describes the research and ...