PTO Today

Helping Parent Leaders Make Schools Great

My Tip of the Week: Plan Fun Family Events

January 14th, 2010 by

For years now, I’ve been talking about family events as a tool for welcoming and connecting with families. Our School Family Nights offerings are based on this concept.

And while the traditional nights — like Family Reading Night and Family Movie Night — are great and deservedly popular, this tip is about even more diverse events. I’m always so impressed by the creativity of PTOs and PTAs in developing their own unique events. At our school, we had an awesome mother-son mini-golf event in the school gym.

What have you done? We’ve started a dedicated thread on our message boards for compiling a whole list of new family event ideas for you to think about in your planning. Add your own or just be inspired. Many times, these twists on the old reliable can be just what’s needed to rekindle interest in your events. Good luck!

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Posted in Family Events, Running Your Group, Tim's Tip | 2 Comments »

2 Responses to “My Tip of the Week: Plan Fun Family Events”

  1. Carolyn Johnson Says:
    January 15th, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    Amazing how all of your events are patterned after PTAs. Maybe I should say “stolen.” We’re a wonderful organization; too bad you chose PTO with no local, state or national support.

  2. Tim Sullivan Says:
    January 18th, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    Hi Carolyn -

    Thanks for responding. I’m not exactly sure what you are implying. Did you click through to see the literally dozens and dozens of different ideas both local PTA and local PTO leaders have posted in that message board thread? Are you suggesting they were cribbed from the National PTA? I guess I’d disagree on that count.

    Side note: If they were cribbed from a PTA — wouldn’t that be a good thing? Don’t we want the best parent group ideas going to as many parent groups as possible to help as many schools and kids as possible?

    As far as support, you are right that the PTA structure and structure for PTOs are different. But no support? Tens of thousands of PTOs (and PTAs) who’ve been helped by our articles, tools, guidebooks, programs, conferences, phone support, free offers and consulting beg to differ.

    To me it’s about what groups do to make their schools great places for kids. I hope all groups of all acronyms and goals have as much success as possible.

    Tim

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