I've been doing this since my kids were in preschool. Once a week, I pick a place that we are going to go whether anyone joins us or not. In preschool, it was a playground. Another year, it was a pool. Now my kids are 6 and 8, and we can venture further and stay longer. I pick a state park or an outdoorsy location with woods and water.
Each week, I email my list and say: "Playground meet up this week is on Thursday at Smith Park from 10-12". Give specific time frame and include a link to the map. The key is to make it easy.
The day before the meet up, I email the whole list again and I say: "This week I have: Parker Family, Smith Family, Johnson Family. Let me know if I missed you.' This reminds people to come and we usually get another family or two who hadn't already committed.
My email list is inclusive -- in preschool it was the whole class. Now it's ever evolving as I talk to people and share that I do this. The email always says -- "Open Invitation! Bring a friend!" I always include a line that says: "If you want off this list, let me know."
Make it regular, make it low key, make it free, make it something you're going to do anyway. No pressure, join us if you can. People will show up.
Side note - I am a complete introvert. You can do this if you're an introvert! You don't have to be a super outgoing person! You just have to be a person willing to identify a meeting point and send out a message.
Interesting--my parents live on Camano Island. Were you by chance speaking in Stanwood? My cousin's husband is the mayor there and I would be happy to know if there are like-minded parents and resources there his family might be able to tap into.
These are such good ideas for building community! I think as parents we sometimes don't prioritize our social connections with people who share our values and interests. It really is important for all the humans.
is directly relevant to your Substack theme. I think you will both enjoy and be deeply troubled by it, not so much for your own kids, but for children in general. The theme is AI in education. I taught college for 25 years, and only in my last year did I have an AI paper turned in by a student. It should not be part of any writing curriculum, and definitely not part of any pre-college curriculum without strict and transparent boundaries. This podcast gives guidance for that.
Thank you! I will listen. I'm starting to get more questions about AI and feel I don't have a good answer at this point. I need to start educating myself more and appreciate any good source recommendations.
Zak Stein of Harvard, to whom Nate talks in the podcast, has written a book on the topic, but even he admits that he is just starting to come to grips with the implications of AI. We all have a lot to learn.
Also, it's a losing battle... My 12 year old being raised in a video game free household just told me "If I ever made a compass out of redstone and gold, it would always point to you."
Love this and thank you for the SFCxUS shout out! We loved hosting you the other night as well. <3 I'm happy to connect with anyone in MA/New England area. We have a growing network doing events and helping support each others advocacy efforts!
I've been doing this since my kids were in preschool. Once a week, I pick a place that we are going to go whether anyone joins us or not. In preschool, it was a playground. Another year, it was a pool. Now my kids are 6 and 8, and we can venture further and stay longer. I pick a state park or an outdoorsy location with woods and water.
Each week, I email my list and say: "Playground meet up this week is on Thursday at Smith Park from 10-12". Give specific time frame and include a link to the map. The key is to make it easy.
The day before the meet up, I email the whole list again and I say: "This week I have: Parker Family, Smith Family, Johnson Family. Let me know if I missed you.' This reminds people to come and we usually get another family or two who hadn't already committed.
My email list is inclusive -- in preschool it was the whole class. Now it's ever evolving as I talk to people and share that I do this. The email always says -- "Open Invitation! Bring a friend!" I always include a line that says: "If you want off this list, let me know."
Make it regular, make it low key, make it free, make it something you're going to do anyway. No pressure, join us if you can. People will show up.
Side note - I am a complete introvert. You can do this if you're an introvert! You don't have to be a super outgoing person! You just have to be a person willing to identify a meeting point and send out a message.
That’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
Interesting--my parents live on Camano Island. Were you by chance speaking in Stanwood? My cousin's husband is the mayor there and I would be happy to know if there are like-minded parents and resources there his family might be able to tap into.
Yes! I was at the Stanwood High School. I’ll send you the link once I’m home.
As I was reading this I was thinking about your episode on Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship. And then you included it!
Community is vital - yet elusive for many parents who feel like they're all alone. What a fantastic resource you've put together Katherine!
These are such good ideas for building community! I think as parents we sometimes don't prioritize our social connections with people who share our values and interests. It really is important for all the humans.
This is not a comment about this piece, which I liked. It is to connect you with The Great Simplification and Nate Hagens. The program he posted today, https://www.thegreatsimplification.com/episode/180-zak-stein
is directly relevant to your Substack theme. I think you will both enjoy and be deeply troubled by it, not so much for your own kids, but for children in general. The theme is AI in education. I taught college for 25 years, and only in my last year did I have an AI paper turned in by a student. It should not be part of any writing curriculum, and definitely not part of any pre-college curriculum without strict and transparent boundaries. This podcast gives guidance for that.
Thank you! I will listen. I'm starting to get more questions about AI and feel I don't have a good answer at this point. I need to start educating myself more and appreciate any good source recommendations.
Zak Stein of Harvard, to whom Nate talks in the podcast, has written a book on the topic, but even he admits that he is just starting to come to grips with the implications of AI. We all have a lot to learn.
Love this one, of course. Thanks for your thoughtful ideas.
Also, it's a losing battle... My 12 year old being raised in a video game free household just told me "If I ever made a compass out of redstone and gold, it would always point to you."
I think he's grateful I'm his mom.
Pretty sure. ;-)
Love this and thank you for the SFCxUS shout out! We loved hosting you the other night as well. <3 I'm happy to connect with anyone in MA/New England area. We have a growing network doing events and helping support each others advocacy efforts!
I enjoyed the event! Thanks for inviting me. I was happy to learn about your org's work and will continue to refer people to you.