The main difference between parental involvement and engagement is that parental engagement indicates more active and meaningful participation in children’s education than parental involvement.

Every parent wants their children to learn, grow and develop and to become independent and productive people in society. Education plays a very important role in this process. Parental involvement and engagement are two concepts that describe parents’ role in and contribution to their children’s education. These two terms have no clear or consistent definitions. We use them to describe various parental behaviours.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Parental Involvement 
     – Definition, Characteristics 
2. What is Parental Engagement
     – Definition, Characteristics 
3. What is the Difference Between Parental Involvement and Engagement
    – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Parental Involvement, Parental Engagement

What is Parental Involvement

There is no clear-cut definition for the term parental involvement. In general, this term focuses on parent participation in children’s education, especially the role they play in their children’s educational institutes. Schools and early learning centres involve their students’ parents by encouraging two-way communication between home and the educational establishment. These establishments may give parents the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of the establishment and make decisions that affect the establishment. In addition to these, they may also use parents’ skills to enrich the curriculum.

In general, it is possible to measure parental improvement through parental attendance at school events, such as parent-teacher conferences, school open houses, and classroom visits. However, it’s also important to note that parents’ attendance at their children’s school doesn’t necessarily indicate that they are fully engaged in the children’s education. They may be merely doing what is asked by the school in order to keep their children in the school system.

What is Parental Engagement

Parent engagement is a step ahead of parental involvement. Parental engagement is parents’ active and meaningful participation in children’s education.  This education can include learning at home, as well as education at early learning centres, schools, or community. With educational settings like schools, parental engagement involves a greater commitment and ownership of action than parental involvement. Moreover, parental education implies that parents are present in every aspect of their child’s life, from providing basic needs such as shelter and food to having open communication and showing affection. Parental engagement is also characterized by a discussion between parents and educators on how they can improve children’s learning and provide a supportive home learning environment.

Relationship Between Parental Involvement and Engagement

Parental involvement and engagement are two concepts that describe parents’ role in and contribution to their children’s education. These two terms have no clear or consistent definitions. We use them to describe various parental behaviours.

Difference Between Parental Involvement and Engagement

Definition

Parental involvement is a general term that describes parents’ participation in their children’s education while parental engagement is parents’ active and meaningful participation in children’s education.

Nature

Parental engagement is more meaningful and active than parental involvement.

Parental Behaviour

In parental involvement, parents may be involved in education merely because they are instructed by the educational establishment to do so. However, parental engagement indicates a greater commitment from the parent’s side.

Relationship Between Educational Institute and Parents

When a parent is actively engaged in the child’s education, he or she may have a better relationship with the educators and the establishment. However, when a parent is just involved in a child’s education, he or she may not have a good relationship with the educators and establishment.

Conclusion

In brief, parental involvement and engagement are two concepts that describe parents’ role in and contribution to their children’s education. In general, we consider parental engagement as more meaningful and active than parental involvement. Hence, this is the main difference between parental involvement and engagement.

Reference:

1. Ireland, Kay. “The Definition of Parent Involvement.” Hello Motherhood, 17 Oct. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “5380641” (CC0) via Pixabay

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