Head Start Parents' Reports of Managing Time to Support Parent Involvement

Abstract

In order to encourage parents’ involvement in children’s learning and development, teachers in one Head Start program sent a developmentally appropriate activity, linked to the classroom curriculum, home each week for parents and children to do together.  This exploratory study used focus groups to examine how parents made the time to complete these “homework†activities.  Parents reported using a variety of time management strategies and supports such as organizational aids, supportive family members, routines, and a flexible time perspective. They also discussed the obstacles they faced in managing time such as work schedules, high levels of parental stress, and household responsibilities.  These results are limited by sample size and characteristics. However, asking parents how they make the time to be involved with their children may result in information that can be shared with other Head Start families who are struggling with this issue.