Reflecting on Family Engagement in Farm to Early Care and Education
To partner with families to incorporate farm to early care and education in your setting, consider these questions:
› Do the foods in your current menu or food-related activities represent mainly what you or your staff typically serve or eat? How might you intentionally change menus to include a“ new-to-you” food that is a staple for families?
› How can you move beyond a simple recipe request and ask families to share the story or tradition behind a specific ingredient?
› How might you replace a handout or flier with a more interactive type of communication, such as a daily photo board or tasting journal, that elicits families’ responses?
› What vegetable or herb could you grow in your setting that could be used in a tasting activity once it’ s harvested? How could families be included in the growing activity? Could plants be sent home with children to extend the learning at home?
› What are the potential barriers to participation in family events, such as potlucks or field trips? How can you ensure that the timing, cost, and activities allow every family to participate in a meaningful way?
How Administrators Can Support Farm to Early Care and Education
To support the implementation of farm to early care and education in their settings, administrators can
› Allocate funds for educators to purchase seasonal produce from farmers’ markets for tasting demonstrations or class recipes.
› Offer time for educators to attend workshops on gardening, nutrition education, or culturally responsive cooking. The National Farm to School Network and the Association for State Public Health Nutritionists host free workshops about farm to early care and education.
› Build community partnerships by reaching out to local farmers, health departments, and other community members to establish long-term collaborations that benefit the early care and education site.
› Include farm to early care and education goals in the program’ s wellness policy in the family handbook. This lets families know that the program is committed to nutrition and wellness and establishes this as a priority even as staff changes.
50 Educating Young Children
Summer 2026