Parents Teaching Parents is committed to helping communities gather together and help each other raise responsible, well behaved children. By forming a parenting group in your neighborhood or community you will have the power to positively impact the lives of every citizen in that community. It’s easier than you think! Here are seven simple steps to creating a parenting group in your area.
1. Find a ‘Host’ Location
Looking for a location that will suit your group can be as simple as volunteering your living room. Your group may want to rotate homes for each session, going to whosever home the session will be taught by. However, if the group feels more comfortable in a formal setting there are several other options as well. Some neighborhoods have a ‘Clubhouse’ or Conference Room that can be rented out for meetings such as this. Groups might even get the space donated if club managers are aware of the nature of the meetings. Some parenting groups may choose to meet at their local community center, church, park, school or library. The two most important things to consider when choosing a meeting location are:
1. Plenty of room and seating for all participants
2. Access to a TV & DVD player for the audio/visual material required for each session.
2. Contact ‘The United Way’ Library
The ‘United Way’ Library has Love & Logic books, CD’s and DVD’s available to check out for parenting groups. They are free of charge; however a credit card will be required to check out materials in case they are lost or damaged. For the United Way Library location in Utah County, click here. Note: In addition to the materials available through the United Way, participants have the option of buying a workbook for the course. This workbook is for participants to keep. It outlines each lesson and has practice exercises and places to take notes. The workbooks cost $10 each and can be purchased by clicking here.
3. Gather Parents
Most parents have friends, neighbors, and family members who are in similar stages of raising kids. Why not gather them together to form a parenting group? Your group can be as large or small as you want to make it, but groups of 6-8 couples would probably work best. You may want to post a bulletin advertising your parenting group at your local community center, school, library, grocery store, fitness center, or church. Or you may want to keep it small and limit it to people you know well.
4. Schedule Dates
The beauty of Parents Teaching Parents is that your group has control over how often and when you want to meet. Some groups meet on a monthly basis, others on a weekly basis. The Love & Logic course takes six sessions to complete (five lessons and one review session), and about two hours for each session. Get feedback from your group and schedule the six days and times that work best for everyone.
5. Assign ‘Teachers'
The best way to learn about any skill is to research and prepare to teach that skill. Parents Teaching Parents encourages each participant or couple in the group to teach one of the six sessions. If the thought of teaching a parenting class gives you anxiety, relax! Each Love & Logic lesson outline is very easy to follow. It tells you exactly what to say and when to say it, what video clip to play and when to play it, what questions to ask and when to ask them. You can do it!
6. Hold meetings
Each Love & Logic session covers a lot of material, so stay on track! A two hour window of time should be plenty to complete the session, but only if you keep chatting, questions and comments to a minimal. Keep in mind, you can always allow time at the end to share experiences and ask more questions if needed. As with any two hour meeting, a mid-way break/stretch would be appreciated by the participants. You may want to provide refreshments as well, though it is not necessary. Encourage each participant to bring some paper and a pen to take notes with, or provide a handout for them to take notes on.
7. Reap the rewards!
When you begin to see positive changes in your kids due to the time and effort you invest in learning Love & Logic skills, you will definitely say it was worth it! Take your new skills and practice them often and you will develop a happy, healthy relationship with your child(ren). Have fun!
