10 Simple Ways to Make Your PTO Feel Like a Village

PTOs work hard (and with a lot of heart) to support our schools—selling tickets for the fall carnival, organizing the book fair, and making sure Teacher Appreciation Week feels truly special. But your PTO also supports something even bigger: the families who make your school special. And those families need just as much support as the children they send to school.

There’s a reason one of the biggest challenges for any parent group is getting people to show up. We assume people are just too busy. Parents are juggling so much that being part of a school group can feel like “one more thing” on the to-do list.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

It’s not always about the schedule. Sometimes it’s about connection. Parenting today can be really lonely. Between work, kids’ activities, and endless responsibilities, it’s hard to make friends or feel rooted in your community. Parents might say no because they don’t feel connected or they aren’t sure if the PTO is for them.

You know that your group is more than a fundraising machine, it’s a safe landing spot for parents, and you can make sure families know it, too. Every meeting, every event, every “Hey, can you help with this?” is an opportunity to help families connect, build friendships, and feel like they belong.

10 Simple Ways to Make Your PTO Feel More Like a Village

1. Start With a Smile: At meetings and events, have a greeter whose only job is to say hello and introduce new faces around.

2. Mix Up Your Meeting Spots: Hold a coffee meet-up at a local café or a park playdate so parents can connect in a casual setting.

3. Use the “Ask for One” Rule: When recruiting, invite someone to help with just one small task—no big commitments required.

4. Spotlight Your People: Share short “volunteer shout-outs” in your newsletter or Facebook group so parents feel seen and appreciated.

5. Build in Chat Time: At events, create moments for parents to mingle—think snack tables, “conversation corner” seating, or a few icebreaker questions (what was your favorite school lunch as a kid?).

6. Welcome New Families: Create a small “welcome committee” to greet new families at the start of the school year and share how to get involved.

7. Host Easy Get Togethers: Host low-pressure, free or low-cost gatherings like a popsicle social or playground meet-up just for fun.

8. Pair Up Volunteers: Whenever possible, match a new volunteer with a returning one so they instantly have a buddy.

9. Ask for Input—and Use It: Send quick polls to parents about what events or support they’d like to see, then make sure they know their feedback made a difference.

10. Make Thank-Yous Public: Thank volunteers and supporters out loud at meetings, post about them on social media, and share their contributions in your newsletter.

You’re Building More Than a PTO—You’re Building a Village

When your group brings parents together, you’re giving them more than an event to attend. You’re giving them:

• A fellow parent to swap babysitting hours with when a work meeting runs late.
• A carpool buddy who can help get the kids to practice when schedules collide.
• A go-to resource for school info—like which teacher loves Target gift cards or when the permission slips are actually due.
• A recommendation for an art class your child will love because their child took it last year.
• An extra set of hands at events so you’re not stuck manning the bake sale table alone.
• A friend to vent with about homework meltdowns who just “gets it” without judgment.

And here’s the best part, you don’t need a big budget or a huge volunteer team to make it happen. You just need to keep showing up, keep inviting people in, and keep making space for those connections to grow. Yes, your PTO supports the school. But it also supports the families who make that school special. And in a time when so many people feel alone, that might be the most important work you do all year.

Read the latest issue of PTO Today Magazine, mailed to more than 84,000 K-8 schools. Look for your group's free copy, or read the latest issue online.

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