Qualification: NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Educator
Unit: Unit 3.2: Plan, lead and review play opportunities which support children’s learning and development in relation to current frameworks
Learning outcome: Be able to lead and support play opportunities
Assessment criteria: Encourage parents/carers to take an active role in children’s play
Early years practitioners have the important responsibility of creating a trusting and respectful relationship with parents/carers to encourage them to take an active role in their child’s play.
It is important for practitioners to create an environment that shows parents/carers how valued and respected their input is in the early years setting. This can be achieved through open communication and by providing opportunities for parents/carers to participate in their child’s play.
Practitioners can provide parents/carers with information about the benefits of active involvement in their child’s play. This can include information on how parental involvement helps to promote a strong bond between parent and child, encourages learning opportunities, develops problem-solving skills and increases self-esteem.
There should also be two-way communication between the Early Years and home settings to ensure consistency and to share knowledge about each individual child’s likes, dislikes and interests.