Preschool students play in their classroom's make-believe kitchen during a recent school day.
It was after work at the end of a long week with a holiday just around the corner, but that didn’t stop about 30 parents of Langley Pre-K students from meeting up to eat, share and learn together at the first Parent Café on November 17.
Families of preschoolers have lots of joys and challenges in common. The ongoing series of Parent Cafés are a chance to relate those experiences with others in the Langley family and get to know each other better. Langley education professionals add to the Parent Café experience to help parents understand what makes preschoolers tick.
Langley’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Coordinator Latoya Smith and the school Pre-K Parent Committee organized the Parent Café series. It aims to help Pre-K families talk to, support, and learn from each other as they work to develop skills to strengthen their families and help them get through raising children and facing challenging times together. The theme for the first event was “Know as They Grow,” focusing on building families’ knowledge of child development and communicating with children.
Families of preschoolers have lots of joys and challenges in common. The ongoing series of Parent Cafés are a chance to relate those experiences with others in the Langley family and get to know each other better. Langley education professionals add to the Parent Café experience to help parents understand what makes preschoolers tick.
Langley’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) Coordinator Latoya Smith and the school Pre-K Parent Committee organized the Parent Café series. It aims to help Pre-K families talk to, support, and learn from each other as they work to develop skills to strengthen their families and help them get through raising children and facing challenging times together. The theme for the first event was “Know as They Grow,” focusing on building families’ knowledge of child development and communicating with children.
The event was a huge hit! It started with students and families sharing potluck dishes together. Everyone was impressed by the amazingly skilled chefs we have at Langley! Then, while our children played, parents and family members shared experiences and feelings about our theme in one-on-one, small group, and whole group conversations. We practiced listening without interrupting or judging (for good or bad). Along the way we picked up some great ideas from other families to try out at home, and learned that we’re not alone in having difficult times or wishing we knew how to handle situations with our children differently.
Pre-K-3 teacher Ms. Smith wrapped up the festivities by asking parents and family members to use one word to describe how they felt about the Parent Café. Parents felt “supported,” “reflective,” “inspired,” and “energized.” One parent said that the Parent Café was, “one of the most valuable events I’ve been to at Langley,” and the Pre-K committee continues to hear encouraging feedback.
We’re looking forward to the rest of the Parent Café series, getting to know other families better and learning from them as we all share this crazy journey of raising and educating our kids together.
Mark Your Calendars: the next Parent Café is planned for Tuesday, December 12, and will focus on social connections and support in times of need.
By Jennifer Allen Billington (Jen)
Pre-K Parent Committee Co-Chair
Pre-K-3 teacher Ms. Smith wrapped up the festivities by asking parents and family members to use one word to describe how they felt about the Parent Café. Parents felt “supported,” “reflective,” “inspired,” and “energized.” One parent said that the Parent Café was, “one of the most valuable events I’ve been to at Langley,” and the Pre-K committee continues to hear encouraging feedback.
We’re looking forward to the rest of the Parent Café series, getting to know other families better and learning from them as we all share this crazy journey of raising and educating our kids together.
Mark Your Calendars: the next Parent Café is planned for Tuesday, December 12, and will focus on social connections and support in times of need.
By Jennifer Allen Billington (Jen)
Pre-K Parent Committee Co-Chair
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