Parent volunteer Mr Aaron Tan knew little about wrapping dumplings. But that didn’t stop him from organising a live demonstration for the children at Little Seeds Preschool Capstone. “I enlisted the help of my 83-year-old grandmother,” recalls Mr Tan, who had fun curating a sensory-rich Dumpling Festival programme where children had a try at wrapping and tasting their own dumplings.
The most meaningful part of the activity, reflects Mr Tan, was seeing the intergenerational interactions between his grandmother and his children, Edward, 5, and Elizabeth, 3, and their friends. “The family bonding experience was invaluable.”
It’s such moments that inspire Mr Tan, chairperson of the preschool’s Parent Support Group, to spearhead initiatives such as afternoon readings, Teachers’ Day celebrations and farewell gathering for an outgoing principal. His altruistic support for educators’ work has earned him recognition under the ‘Our Wonderful Parents’ initiative.
Mr Tan enlists the help of his grandmother in a show and tell at the preschool during the Dumpling Festival.
THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF ACTIVE PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Educator Ms Brenda Chong, who nominated Mr Tan for the ‘Our Wonderful Parents’ initiative, appreciates how he views the preschool not just as an institution, but a community where parents are vital partners. “Aaron is always finding new ways to contribute, from volunteering his time to taking a meaningful interest in how the preschool’s curriculum can be enriched by parental support,” she says.
Mr Tan recalled that his mother had worked with his teachers back then to reinforce his learning at home.
“Now as a parent, I want to have this same partnership with my children’s educators to build the same loving, nurturing learning environment,” he highlights, adding that his children feel proud and confident when they see him involved in the preschool activities.
Mr Tan welcomes staff from Little Seeds Preschool Capstone into his home for a gathering
Children are very happy to see their mummies and daddies get involved in their school, observes Mr Tan. “Some of the parents who are involved more regularly gain celebrity status among the children,” he jokes. “The children know some of us by name and greet us. That validation we get from the children spurs us on to do more,” he shares.
BUILDING A CULTURE OF CONSISTENCY
Ms Chong notes that Mr Tan’s involvement has been instrumental in encouraging more fathers to step up and find their place in the community, which is traditionally mother-led. He also acts as the preschool’s bridge to the wider community. “Aaron connects us with resources and guest speakers that enrich our children’s learning. Most importantly, his involvement builds a bridge of trust between educators and families,” she says.
Having a strong home-school partnership means that there is consistency between preschool and home. “When parents and educators share concerns and work together to address specific issues, the children don’t get confused by different voices and the learning is reinforced by repetition in different contexts,” says Mr Tan.
HOW TO INVOLVE PARENTS (WITHOUT OVERWHELMING THEM)
Ms Chong emphasises the significant impact of collective actions by parents on the preschool. "If every parent contributes just a little bit of their unique availability and talent, those small efforts create a massive, positive environment for our children,” she points out.
She shares how educators can better bring in parents as partners:
- Create diverse, accessible avenues for involvement to cater to parents with different strengths and schedules.
- Set goals together with parents on a child’s developmental milestones. This ensures the child receives consistent support at home and at school, creating a unified environment that fosters their growth.
