This research-practice brief, written by Tarajean Yazzie-Mintz, offers insights into family and community engagement in early childhood education practice and research, rooted in the knowledge and capacity of native communities.
“Traditionally and historically, “family,” in relation to the child in school, denotes immediate or nuclear family, primarily the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child. In Native early childhood education, we expand on this concept, thinking of family in terms of the wider network of kinship relations. This broader definition of family
- Allows us in Native early childhood work to connect education and the child with the more expansive relationships the child has in her/his life.
- Comes with the message that education is the responsibility of the larger community within which the child interacts, and is inclusive of the variety of familial relations that different children experience.
- Opens up opportunities for schools and early learning centers to interact beyond just biological families.”
Download the full brief to read more!
