Educational practices and institutional culture reflect the knowledge and understanding we all possess. Our understanding of this is the key to everything, since pure theoretical knowledge is not enough to change the current situation. Changes of the entire practice have also changed our relationship with parents. In order for parents to feel accepted and welcome in an educational institution, and therefore respected regarding their competencies, an early childhood education institution should be open, always ready to interact and establish cooperation. Experience indicates that cooperation between parents and the institution is a complex process in which motivation and interest of both sides represent a key component. An attempt was made to identify and meet the different needs of parents through varied forms of cooperation. Through three phases and with the help of different methods (various parent-teacher meetings, individual consultation, OneDrive with individual folders, teacher training, a website which contains descriptions and various activities, assemblies of activities, project presentations and the like), parents were introduced to their children’s life in the institution, their way of learning and exploring the very educational process. In the final phase, preparations for school were carried out by both parents and teachers, through various explorative, etc. tasks with a maximum engagement by all members of the family and kindergarten. The transition from the classic cooperation toward partnerships with parents is a long and gradual journey. Joint planning, documentation and reflection have helped to recognize and realize the needs of parents in the institutional context, as well as change attitudes and beliefs belonging to the teachers. In this way, parents become equal participants of the education and co-creators of our kindergarten curriculum. By changing our own practices and culture, we have raised the level of cooperation and opened a path to partnership.
Keywords: cooperation, partnership, parents, new methods
