GUIDELINES FOR A SUCCESSFUL PARENT MEETING

Parent Networks build adult connections that offer support and help create a strong, unified adult voice to guide Brookline’s pre-teen and teen communities. These meetings can be casual open-ended gatherings discussing a wide range of topics suggested on the spot or can focus on a pre-determined issue of general interest. Regardless, here are a few guidelines to keep your meeting productive. (Print friendly PDF)

General Guidelines

·      Confidentiality – stress that what is said in the group stays in the group.

·      Help ensure that everyone feels they have the opportunity to talk without interruption.

·      Focus on sharing ideas that work, rather than complaining. Try to help generate positive solutions and strategies for parenting.

·      Respect differences in parenting styles and cultural traditions -- suggestions of alternative approaches are preferrable to criticisms of others’ parenting strategies.

·      Stay focused on the topic(s) at hand – avoid unproductive complaining.

·      Avoid side conversations, instead leaving time at the end for unstructured mingling.

·      Try to start and end on time, encouraging everyone to stay for the full meeting.

Ideas for Meeting Structure:

·      Check in – introduce yourselves, ID your children, perhaps say what issue is currently most on your mind

·      Consider passsing around a sign-in sheet with email/phone contact info for ease of communication

·      Read meeting guidelines (above)

·      Introduce chosen topic (if that has been decided) or open the floor for general concerns

·      Choose topic (s) for next time, if appropriate

·      Choose next meeting date/place, if not pre-determined