Parental involvement in a child's education as a factor of mutual understanding in the context of educational changes

The article explores parental involvement in the educational process as a factor contributing to the development of mutual understanding between parents and children in the context of educational changes. It highlights that parents’ engagement in school life, their awareness of educational reforms, and effective communication among participants in the educational process significantly correlate with the development of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components of mutual understanding. The article presents the results of an empirical study, which reveal statistically significant correlations between parental activity and the level of mutual understanding. It is substantiated that mutual understanding is formed through a two-way interaction, which includes parents’ ability to understand the needs and individual characteristics of their children, as well as children’s awareness of their parents’ intentions, expectations, and support. The relevance of the topic is determined by the need to reconsider the role of the family in children's education amid the transformation of the Ukrainian school according to the New Ukrainian School concept, as well as in the context of current challenges caused by the full-scale war. In the conditions of war, which has disrupted stable mechanisms of educational interaction and altered social roles in many families, the importance of parental involvement in a child’s education increases, since the family becomes a source of stability, support, and guidance in a changed and unstable educational environment. The regulatory and legal framework for such changes is enshrined in the State National Program "Education" (Ukraine of the 21st Century) and the Law of Ukraine "On Education", which grant parents the right and obligation to participate in the management of educational institutions, contribute to the child’s development, and act as full-fledged participants in the educational process.