Preschool success can be tied to a variety of factors, but none is more important than family engagement. While school is important, the family is the most important unit in a child’s life, so strong engagement between school and family will ensure that the child gets the most out of the school experience. There are 4 specific benefits that family engagement can bring to positive school success:

1. Family engagement can reduce challenging behavior. Strong communication and consistency between teachers and the family can reduce challenging behaviors (Brightwheel, 2026). Children thrive when expectations and language are consistent, so keeping both as constant as possible will produce good outcomes for children, parents, and teachers.

2. Family engagement is tied to academic success. Families who are involved in their children’s education help them develop language skills, problem-solving skills, and prepare them for kindergarten. Their engagement will also lay the foundation for the elementary years and beyond.

3. Family engagement contributes to social-emotional development. Parents can partner with schools to support their children’s social and emotional development. They can use the same language and techniques to bridge the home-school connection. If children can develop these skills during the preschool years, they will be set up for success later in life (Tseeva, 2024).

4. Family engagement is tied to success later in life. Children who have parents who are involved in their children’s schooling from a young age are more confident and have positive attitudes towards school. They are also more likely to achieve academic success and to graduate from high school and pursue higher education.

How can you become involved in your child’s preschool experience?

• Volunteer – in the classroom or helping to do prep from home.
• Share culture/expertise – find opportunities to share home culture and personal expertise.
• Communication – keep open lines of communication with teachers and administration.
• Support learning – support your child’s learning by reading with them and practicing skills that are being worked on in class.
• Value – value the school experience, your child, the teachers, administrators, and each other.
• Feedback – give feedback in a kind, positive manner.

Family engagement is not just a great idea – it is essential to students’ and schools’ success. City Kids School is committed to strong partnerships between the school and our amazing families.

 

References:

Brightwheel. (2026). Family engagement in early education. Brightwheel. https://mybrightwheel.com/blog/how-to-strengthen-parent-engagement-at-preschool-or-childcare 

Tseeva, B. (2024). Involving parents to boost kids’ SEL development. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/engaging-parents-sel-activities/