4. Getting to Know You Night
Hold a Getting to
Know You Night.
Parents, staff and
children spend an
informal evening
getting to know each
other. Hold it
somewhere other
than the program
building—a barbecue
in the park, a potluck
supper, or a sporting
event.
5. The Power of Three Hours
Volunteering in the
classroom for just
three hours over the
course of the entire
school year is enough
to make an impact. In
fact, this idea is the
foundation of The
National Parent-
Teacher Association's
Three for Me program,
encouraging and
guiding busy parents
through different
ways to get involved
at their children's
schools.
6. Cultural Event
Organize a Cultural
Event, where parents
from specific
cultures plan and do
the activities. If you
have several
different cultures,
you can host several
events. You can end
with a cultural food
event for all the
families in the class
or program.
8. DECISION-MAKING
These activities enable families to
participate in decisions about school
programs by:
• School Board membership
• Distributing draft policies/issues
papers to parents for feedback
• Including student representatives
alongside parents in decision-
making
9. Hiring and Policy Making
Parents and community members can
and should serve on communities
that set policy and hire staffs.
10. Curriculum Development
The parents learn about and
understand what constitutes a
quality program and what is
involved in a developmentally
appropriate curriculum.
11. Sample Activities
Examples of activities schools could conduct
to promote decision making include, but are not
limited to:
• Encouraging parents to attend school
improvement team meetings.
• Assigning staff members to help parents
address concerns or complaints.
• Inviting staff and parent groups to meet
collaboratively, providing space and time to
do so.
• Helping families advocate for each other.
• Involving parents in:
planning orientation programs for new
families,
developing parenting skills programs,
and
13. Read together every day.
Read to your child
every day. Make
this a warm and
loving time when
the two of you can
cuddle close
together. Bedtime is
an especially
great time for
reading together.
14. Participation in classroom
and center activities
Those who are
involved must have
guidance, direction,
and training.
Involving parents
and others as paid
guides is an
excellent way also
to provide
employment and
training.
15. Involvement of families on writing
and individualized educational
programs (IEPs)
Those who are
involved must have
guidance, direction,
and training.
Involving parents
and others as paid
guides is an
excellent way also
to provide
employment and
training.
