Head Start would not be possible without parent involvement. Furthermore, studies have shown that children are more successful in school when their parents are involved. As a result here at SETA Head Start, single parent families are encouraged to volunteer 10 hours a month; two parent families are encouraged to volunteer 15 hours a month – any relative 18 or older can do the volunteer hours. However, a child’s enrollment is not conditional upon a family’s participation in and completion of the volunteer hours.
Opportunities
There are many opportunities for volunteer activities and many can be done at home as well as in the classroom. Here are a few ideas:
At the school…
- Read to children.
- Share a story or song from your childhood.
- Bring photos, pictures, clothing, musical instruments, etc. from your culture to share with the children.
- Plan and carry out an art, movement, music, math, science, or other activity.
- Participate in observation and assessment of children.
- Make suggestions about classroom materials or set up.
- Supervise the playground.
- Conduct the required daily safety check of the playground.
- Set up the playground equipment.
- Plant a tree, or flowers…or a garden.
- Plan field trips.
- Attend field trips.
- Help evaluate our program – self assessment.
- Help make lunch.
- Eat with the children.
At home…
- Tape a story or song in your native language.
- Sew doll clothing, or wash and repair doll clothes.
- Be in charge of communication – to notify about/invite other parents to events.
- Write a parent newsletter.
- Make games and felt-board stories.
- Cut things out for projects.
- Gather collage materials.
- Provide childcare for a parent volunteering in the classroom – trade off, so you will both be receiving credit for volunteer hours.
- Make a birdhouse for a tree outside the classroom.
- Care for classroom pets on weekends or holidays.
- Refurbish/repair classroom materials/furniture.
