1. How to Organize a Parent Education Workshop
Written by: Katie Conner, Bobbie Dever, and Mary Crain

2. Workshop Idea Workshop Examples
What is your workshop supposed to accomplish?
Who are you speaking to?
What is your time frame?
Where will you hold the workshop?
What materials will you need?
Is your workshop relevant?
How will you recruit parents?
Nutrition
Environmental Print
Parent Education
Mommy and Me
Family Night
Disability Awareness
Stress Management
Play As Development
Teen Parenting
Communication
Most workshops last approximately two hours

3. Know Why Parents Should Attend Your Workshop...
Great resource for parents
Insightful and positive
Fun, informative, and inexpensive
An opportunity for group interaction
Meet other parents that share the same obstacles
Receive the latest information supported by current research
Learn about many different ways to handle parenting challenges
Discussion based learning in a nonthreatening and comfortable environment

4. Sign-in and Visit
As parents and children arrive, have them sign in and make a nametag to wear. If possible, provide snacks or dinner for the participants and encourage them to visit with one another.
Examples: spaghetti dinner, chili dinner, pizza night, ice cream social
Good Snacks: popcorn, fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers, juice, milk, water,

5. Introduce Your Workshop
Spend a few minutes explaining your workshop and how it will benefit their children and family. This information should offer a brief, easy-to-understand background for parents.
Example: The purpose of this workshop is to provide parents with ideas for getting them and their children involved with their community through activities and community service. Explain that these kinds of activities provide opportunities for family fun and caring for others.

6. Ice Breaker Activity
Help families feel at ease and get to know one another with an activity to “break the ice.” Provide each parent with a pencil and an index car. Encourage them to mingle with other participants.
You can incorporate your theme into your ice breaker activity.
Example: Ask the family participant to write down his/her favorite healthy snack food. Ask participants to introduce themselves and then try to guess the favorite healthy snack food.

7. Main Content A 20 minute informational session A 20 minute activity
Examples: provide a presentation, watch an informational video, have a guest speaker
A 20 minute activity
Examples: cooking healthy meals, diapering a baby doll, child involvement activities, role playing, practicing communication skills
A 20 minute discussion/question answer session.
Examples: ask questions, encourage open discussion

8. Conclusion and Take-Home Materials
At the end of the evening, spend a few minutes summarizing the information and activities shared and how it can be used.  
Ask Questions: What is your understanding of the topic now?  What did you learn that you will incorporate at home?
Hand out information sheets summarizing the material and activities for home incorporation.
Distribute the evaluation sheet for parents to complete before they leave the workshop.

9. Why Are Parent Education Workshops Important?
You can make a significant difference in the parenting skills and of the families you support through educational meetings and classes.  
Parenting classes focus on very specific parenting skills such as nutrition, language development, care of sick children, or child guidance and discipline.  
Training gives parents and family members skills as classroom helpers, activity sponsors, curriculum planners, or policy decision makers in the school.

10. Why Evaluate the Workshop?
Parent input is essential to providing the kinds of workshops and interactive experiences that will build your family involvement program
Indicate the workshops impact on participants
Reveal which workshop activities to end and which ones were successful 
Recommend improvements for the future
Determine the need for the workshop

11. Where Can You Find Parent Education Workshops?
At your child's school
At your local Health Department
At the Parenting Life Skills Center
At the Murney Clinic
Where are some other places that you can find Parent Education Workshops?

12. References
City of Springfield. (n.d.). Springfield Health Department-Official Website. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from Forest Institute. (n.d.). About Us-The Murney Clinic at Forest Institute. The Murney Clinic at Forest Institute. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from Parent Education Workshops. (2011). tutorpedia. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from Prior, J. O., & Gerard, M. R. (2007). Family involvement in early childhood education: Research into practice. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson Delmar Learning. Welcome to Burrell. (n.d.). Burrell Behavioral Health. Retrieved February 27, 2013, from