Everyone has different reasons that they love attending ECFE. Maybe you come for the amazing one on one time that you get with your child. You may really enjoy the connection with other parents of little ones. You might also love the quality early childhood education that you know your child experiences. Undoubtedly, as educators, we're pretty proud of the program that we get to offer to your family!
Whatever your reason is for joining ECFE (and staying as long as some of you have), we're glad you're here. During your time in ECFE, you have likely had a cooperative learning experience without even realizing it. What exactly IS "cooperative learning"? Well, according to Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec (2008), "Cooperation is working together to accomplish shared goals." They go on to say that "Cooperative learning is the instructional use of small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other's learning (p. 1:5)." Have you experienced this concept in your parent education class? If not, it's likely coming soon to a classroom near you!
Why should we learn cooperatively? Cooperative learning leads to a number of positive outcomes. First of all, as a learner, there are greater efforts to achieve. This means that every learner is more productive and has greater intrinsic motivation to succeed. Secondly, as groups work together, more positive relationships among students are fostered. Valuing personal social support, diversity, and cohesion is something that fits naturally in ECFE. Finally, cooperative learning leads to greater psychological health, including a greater ability to cope with adversity and stress. You don't have to live with a toddler for very long before you start to understand stress!
In all of our classes, we love connection. Your educators love to see families connecting with one another in a way that fosters encouragement, stress relief, and lifelong friendships. Coming together to participate in your own learning is one of the things your parent educators love the most to see! The longer you're in the program, the more you see the benefits of cooperation among group members.
Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec also state that "the purpose of cooperative groups is to make each member a stronger individual in his or her own right (2008, pg. 6:18)." How great is that? Families that attend ECFE classes and work cooperatively with their peers to learn about healthy parent and child relationships become STRONGER. As a result, your stress level is reduced, your understanding of your child is increased, and your relationship with your child is strengthened. On top of that, along the way, you've come alongside your new friends to help them reach the same goals. Amazing.
So the next time your parent educator asks you to turn to your neighbor to share, to read through a common parenting issue and problem solve in a small group, or to teach a new concept to a partner, just smile and know that you're in for a treat. You're about to experience cooperative learning.
Johnson, D. W., Johnson, R. T., & Johnson Holubec, E. (2008). Cooperation in the classroom
(8th ed.). Edina, MN: Interaction Book Company.
