This post originally appeared on our ParentSquare Learning Network blog on December 20, 2019.
Curated by Kaylin Smith at ParentSquare
Did you know that a recent national survey found that 40% or less of families eat dinner together three or fewer times per week, with 10% never eating together at all?
It’s hard enough to implement regular time for family connection between students’ academic and extracurricular activities and parents’ chaotic lives and schedules. Add the ease and comfort of digital media, and it can be almost impossible to bring families together for quality time at the end of a long day.
How can educators contribute to making family time more habitual? What information can schools distribute to encourage family bonding? Lucky for you, we decided to help spark this conversation over on Twitter as part of our ParentSquare Learning Network!
Look below to view some of the highlights from our December 18th Twitter Chat: Making Time for Family in the Digital Age, moderated by Amy Moran (@amoran4). Participants joined in with #PSquareLN. Click here to view the whole chat!
Q1: What Events and Activities Does Your School Put Forth To Promote Family Time?
“The biggest events that have been successful at this are our BINGO nights and school carnivals. Nights with academic focuses aren’t usually well attended, but family fun events are.” — Heather L, @LippertH114
“Today I helped facilitate a Moms For Math Club! We gather 1-2 times a month, play board games with all of our kiddos, helping to deepen SEL & strategic thinking!” — Melody McAllister, @mjmcalli
“As a High School Teacher, I can say we don’t do as well here as our elem partners. They have hosted “Science Night” where parents picked a station w/ their S & did the experiment/project right there together! Ps help w/ those projects anyway, & this way all supplies were provided!” — Laura Steinbrink, @SteinbrinkLaura
“Because we’re a virtual school, we work hard to provide opportunities for families to come together – we have a fieldtrip in Jan to the Holocaust Museum and one in Feb to a Clippers game. Building memories that transcend school!” — Laura Spencer, @LSpencerEdD
Q2: How Can We, as Educators, Help Facilitate Quality Time in the Digital Age?
“Make sure kids go home with lots of great learning experiences to talk about!” — John Miller, @mexusmx
“Teach kids & parents it’s important to unplug! Great read for parents below….” — Brandon Burns, @CoachBurnz
“Quality time looks diff for each family, but the trick is to get them all doing things together! My idea is to promote ideas for families via our school’s SM platforms. Some would be school events, & some would be for home. This @buncee is my 1st idea for this. #PSquareLN” — Laura Steinbrink, @SteinbrinkLaura
Q3: Do You Think Positive Information Home Can Help With Family Bonding? What Positive Information Do You Send Home?
“Some kids/parents have had so little positive info they have distrust for school system. For those families, I would contact & celebrate everything!!!! For years, this has helped heal families in my classroom community. It’s work, but it’s worth it.” — Melody McAllister, @mjmcalli
“Positive information that I send home are little notes or messages on ParentSquare when their student has achieved a goal: writing to 100, reading all their sight words correctly, achieving a reading goal, etc” — Erin Dunivan, @msdunivanellis
“I’m not sure if it helps, but it certainly doesn’t hurt! We don’t send home much in that way, but I’d like to see some positive parenting and mindfulness techniques be included in messaging. Breathe with the donut: https://twitter.com/i/status/1207477650006130690” — Laura Spencer, @LSpencerEdD
Q4: What Kind of Messages Do You or Your School Send Home That Encourage Conversation?
“Quick notes such as, your child passed their addition facts today to your child helped another student today. I like to send a pic with it too if I have it. @ParentSquare had been great for this!” — Amy Moran, @amoran4
“Photos celebrating our process & products of learning. Homework themed on family building & sharing these stories in class to connect to our learning. A white piece of paper with the message TOP SECRET.” — J Hamilton, @mrmakemathsense
“I do a weekly video for families to view of the amazing learning! This happens each week – we, as a family, watch it on Monday during #morningmeeting Here’s one;) https://gopro.com/v/zPGwozr39wzJX” — Melisa Hayes, @hayes_melisa
“We have Character Sharing Assemblies every month to feature students in every class. We call, email and write notes to share great things” — Linda Edwards, @LindaEdwardsi
“When I was teaching, I’d send home conversation starter prompts that aligned with our classroom learning. Example: This weekend, when your child asks to go to the movies, ask them to persuade you with three reasons. This supports our persuasive writing in class.” — Laura Spencer, @LSpencerEdD
“Here is a recent message about future Friday when different professionals come in to talk with kids about their jobs. Lots of messages like this go home from classroom and building level to give insight into classroom activities” — Coach Burns, @CoachBurnz
Thanks so much for another amazing Twitter Chat! We really enjoyed hearing all of your tips for managing family time in the digital age.
