When my daughter was in lower elementary school she chose to do a Social Studies community project on the Jones Beach (Long Island, NY) Water Tower.  We went to Jones Beach and took photographs of the tower and then she interviewed the head park ranger.  When we got home she did some research and starting writing a report.  We also built  a model of the tower for the school Social Studies Fair.  It was wonderful to see all of the displays at the fair and the proud looks on the children’s faces. Twenty plus years later both my daughter and I have fond memories of this father-daughter project.

There has been a lot of attention on the need to improve parent involvement in schools.  Planning more fun family activities would really help.  Make sure to provide free child care and have refreshments.

I feel that it is important that there are more family type events in schools periodically.  I always enjoyed seeing the art shows with my children’s work displayed, listening to them perform in concerts or watching them perform in school plays or gym nights.

Be creative in forming these activities to make them more interactive for both the parents and children. A great beginning of the year activity especially for parents new to a school would be a QR Code Scavenger Hunt of the building.  Just think of all the fun parents could have with their children solving problems and riddles on a Math Night.

These parent children activities will become life long memories.