Partnerships with families and outdoor playscapes

In this week’s episode we discuss the value of partnerships between educators and families. Many families are seeking a more active role in their children’s care and education and are challenging the notion of “teacher-as- expert”. We discuss why child care and early learning programs should embrace family involvement which will ultimately benefit not only families, but educators and children as well.  We also discuss the hot topic of outdoor play and how it is different than indoor play, delving into how it allows for high energy, exuberant play that improves both the physical and mental health of our young children.

Our guest, Lynn Wilson, is the author of several books in early childhood education, including ‘Partnerships: Families and Communities in Early Childhood’ and ‘Outdoor Playscapes: Breaking New Ground’. She is a mother of four children, an early childhood educator, and a former faculty member at George Brown College.