Aistear Blogs

Aistear (2024) places a strong emphasis on the importance of families in supporting the learning and development of babies, toddlers and young children. Recognising parents as the primary educators of their children, Aistear considers parents, together with childminders and early years educators, as ‘educators’. Each educator comes to Aistear informed by their relationship with the baby, toddler and young child. Aistear values the unique lens through which parents interpret the Vision, Principles and Themes of the Framework.

Aistear also draws attention to the importance of family in the lives of babies, toddlers and young children. Immediate and extended family — parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins and others — matter deeply, both to and for babies, toddlers and young children. Educators play a vital role in building and nurturing connections with families, knowing how much these loving relationships between babies, toddlers and young children and families support learning and development. Aistear emphasises the importance of the key person approach, which provides the stability of a consistent, personal relationship with someone who comes to know the baby, toddler or young child and their family. Getting to know family members and greeting them by name when they come to the setting is a starting point for educators in building trusting and respectful relationships.

Being an agentic educator means supporting each baby, toddler, and young child to reach their individual potential, and this must include the most important people in their lives. When Aistear speaks of a slow relational pedagogy, it reminds us that this approach also helps build and nurture meaningful connections with families. Taking the time for genuine conversations and open communication brings Aistear to life in everyday practice.

As duty-bearers for the rights of babies, toddlers, and young children, early years educators should consider what this could look like in their setting and explore ways to create physical and relational spaces for communication with families. For example, in a busy baby room, there may be quieter moments during the day when a parent can come in to sit and chat about their child’s settling-in experience. The garden might provide a more open space to support transitions and allow for explorations and conversations. Alternatively, a parent could be invited to join a small group for tea time when collecting their child after a day at work.

Aistear encourages early years educators to continually reflect on practice and see the possibilities for providing the best care and education for babies, toddlers, and young children. Being an advocate for their rights means recognising challenges without giving up. Building these early relationships creates a foundation of trust and security, which is crucial for both the baby, toddler or young child and their family.

Families are a wonderful resource for bringing the early childhood curriculum to life in practice. At the beginning of the year, consider creating a visitor calendar so families can plan their involvement in the setting. Support family participation by highlighting the importance of their contributions, such as telling a story, reading a book, teaching their language, building a fort, joining an art project, baking bread, planting flowers, talking about their job or sharing a cultural celebration. Inviting families to share photos from home—of important people, places, pets, family adventures, or play experiences—helps strengthen those connections.

Likewise, when you communicate the early childhood curriculum to families and invite them to participate, they can see the impact of your work with their babies, toddlers and young children. Help them understand what the Principles and Themes look like in practice in your setting. Putting language to your intentions as you support learning and development helps parents and families better understand and value early childhood education and care, as well as the professional role of the early years educator in that system. Aistear places the baby, toddler, and young child at the heart of the curriculum, nurturing learning and development within a respectful, kind and joyful space.

Read the next blog in our series here.

Read the previous blog in our series here.