The Role of Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education: Basis for the Development of Home-School Strategies

Abstract:

Recent research highlights that effective home-school collaboration fosters a positive learning experience, ensuring continuity between formal and informal education settings. Parents who actively participate in structured at-home learning activities and school-based programs contribute to their children's ability to develop critical thinking skills and a proactive approach toward learning. However, barriers such as work schedules, time constraints, and limited understanding of child development often hinder consistent parental engagement. This study aimed to determine the level of parental involvement in early childhood education in a highly urbanized district of an Asian country for the School Year 2024-2025 as a basis for the development of strategies for home-school partnerships. The study used a descriptive–quantitative research design and adopted Epstein’s 6-level parental involvement steps. The level of parental involvement in early childhood education in the areas of Parenting, Communicating, Volunteering, Learning at Home, Decision Making, and Collaborating with Community was on high level. The level of parental involvement in early childhood education, when grouped according to the aforementioned variables, is also high. There is a significant difference in the level of parental involvement in early childhood education when grouped and compared according to age and highest educational attainment in the areas of volunteering and collaboration with the community. Recommendations to advance home-school learning strategies were provided.

Keywords: Parental Involvement, Early Childhood Education, Home-school Learning Strategies.