ABSTRACT
Families struggle to provide the best environment for their children. Parents carefully choose who, where, and how the child participates and learns. Parents are concerned with who influences the development of their child as well as the specific experiences the child has. The child's initial learning is based on the family traditions, experiences, and knowledge of how to live successfully in their world. Teachers should seek to understand the family, the family bonds, and the family culture and traditions in order to understand the child. Family interactions and experiences greatly impact the development of a child. The importance of these interactions is magnified in a family that has a child with special needs. Parents also benefit as they become more involved with the education of their child. Parent volunteering may be the most well-known way of parent involvement.
