Relationship Building to Promote Health, Safety and Nutrition in ECCE

On the one end of the spectrum, the image of a parent-teacher relationship that is good and effective is the idea that the parent and teacher serve separate roles and functions. [...] On the other end of the spectrum, the teacher plays the role of an extended family member, forming a close relationship with the parent and both parties working together for the development of the child. [...] Differences in culture between the parent and the teacher In the relationship between the teacher and the parent, the teacher comes with their own belief system regarding the health, safety and nutrition of children and so do the parents. [...] To get the community engaged in the business of the ECCE centre and to experience the benefits of its involvement, it is important to first establish effective relationships. [...] The earlier the role of the community in the lives of young children is recognised, the better the chances children have of achieving at school and in life in general (Cotton, 2000).