Abstract:

In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in efforts to engage parents in the educational process, though the extent of this trend varies among preschool educational institutions and relies on the proactive engagement of educators and pedagogues. Diverse approaches to parental involvement are evident in public and private preschool institutions. Recent research indicates that children benefit from active parental engagement in kindergarten life, leading to enhanced learning outcomes and fewer behavioral issues. Despite its significance, the current degree and quality of parental involvement in kindergarten life do not meet necessary requirements. Factors contributing to this include perceived lack of necessity, educator-pedagogue passivity, negative parental experiences, insufficient recognition of the importance of involvement, and limited information about ongoing kindergarten processes. Our focus is on identifying indicators of parental involvement in kindergarten life both before and during the pandemic crisis. Employing various methods, including questionnaire surveys, focus groups, and in-depth interviews, our research covered 18 kindergartens in Batumi, encompassing both state and private institutions. The study validated that preschool educational institutions employ diverse forms of communication and collaboration with parents, involving them to some extent in the educational process. However, these efforts are observed to be insufficient in quantity. While state kindergartens express high self-esteem regarding collaboration with parents, private kindergartens exhibit more active cooperation. Notably, the forms of cooperation have undergone significant changes during the pandemic crisis and the subsequent period. Based on the research findings, the article presents recommendations for enhancing parental involvement in kindergarten life. The insights gained contribute to the ongoing discourse on effective strategies for fostering collaboration between educators and parents in preschool educational settings.

Keywords:

Preschool educational institution, state and private kindergarten, educational process, parent/legal representative, degree and frequency of involvement, parent.