A Guide to Working with Families 9 th Edition

©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Why should teachers care about family life and circumstances?  How are children’s lives affected by family structure and culture?  What are prerequisite attitudes for working with families? ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 The Lawrence Family: Stepfamilies  The Ashley Family: Single parents  Implications for Teachers ◦ Understanding unique circumstances of families ◦ Empathy ◦ Nonjudgmental ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. Teachers should expect to work with diversity

 Diversity  Cultural groups ◦ American racial groups ◦ Immigrants ◦ Socioeconomic and environmental conditions ◦ Family structure ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Poverty  Work demands  Family structure  Conflicting roles  Demands on time ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Guilt  Anger  Love  Anxiety  Frustration  Exhaustion ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Spend some time in a public place: shopping mall, school, church, library, playground, etc. Look at the families around you. Consider all the diversity you see. Consider also your attitude about working with all of these families. What does this tell you about yourself and what you need to learn? ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

A parent brings in her infant to child care most mornings with a diaper that has not been changed, and leaves quickly. The child care staff is very annoyed about this behavior. They are getting completely disgusted with the parent, and one staff member has begun to refuse to greet her when she arrives.

1. Before this goes any farther, consider what should the teachers try to understand about this behavior? 2. What factors might be present in the family's life that cause pressure for the parent? 3. What would be more helpful responses than the teacher who is refusing to greet the parent?

 Teachers must prepare mentally and emotionally to work with all kinds of families.  Diversity means many different things, not just racial or ethnic differences.  Teacher attitudes of acceptance are critical to positive family relationships. ©2013 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.