Our featured article this month highlights February as National Parent Leadership Month. Family and parent leadership refers to the intentional strategies and structures that agencies and systems use to ensure parents can meaningfully influence how early childhood programs and services are designed and delivered. This approach goes beyond traditional family engagement, which often centers on individual relationships, and recognizes parents as partners in shaping the systems that affect children and families.
Please take a few moments to read about how your program can celebrate this month and strengthen authentic parent partnership within your services and systems.
Be well, and keep warm!
The Family Support Team at Center for Schools and Communities
7 Ways to Celebrate National Parent Leadership Month® and Amplify Parent Voice in Your Program
Parents and caregivers are leaders in their families and in communities. Participation in family support programs can provide opportunities to build confidence and leadership skills. Acknowledging growth in their parenting role as well as contributions to programs and communities shows our appreciation for their time, talents, and expertise.
While appreciating parents should be a year-round activity, each February marks the celebration of National Parent Leadership Month® which was started by Parents Anonymous®. This commemoration is in its 22nd year in 2026. Read on for ideas you can use to bolster your parent leadership efforts and celebrate parents this month!
Recognize and Thank Parents – National Parent Leadership Month® is a perfect time to show appreciation for parents. Think about how you can formally acknowledge parents’ contributions to their families and communities. Consider planning an event to commemorate this month or provide certificates of appreciation to families. Mail thank you notes. More ideas along with templates for certificates, Valentines, and thank you postcards can be found at the National Parent Leadership Month® pages by Children’s Trust Fund Alliance and FRIENDS.
Spread the Word – Share information about National Parent Leadership Month® in your newsletters and on social media platforms. Consider requesting a proclamation from local government. The Children’s Trust Fund Alliance has resources to help with requesting proclamations.
Center Parent Voice – Provide opportunities for parents to share their stories. The Children’s Trust Fund Alliance gathered parent stories about accessing help and tips for being a strong parent. Share with parents in your program and think about how you could provide similar opportunities in your community.
Create Platforms for Advocacy – Have conversations with parents about what changes they would like to see in their communities. Encourage collaborative groups to invite parents to the table as equal and valuable partners. Plan community action and advocacy days so parents can speak directly to community leaders. Explore the Parent Leader Network at the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) for examples of how parents can lead systems change.
Assess Your Organization – A key component to growing family leadership and parent voice is to ensure that your organization and staff are prepared to embrace this effort. There are a wealth of tools available to evaluate your organization including resources from FRIENDS and the Strengthening Families Self Assessments for programs from CSSP.
Listen to Parents – Think about the ways you ask parents for feedback. Surveys can be a quick way to gather a lot of information but consider how you might have deeper conversations with families about their experiences. What about one-on-one conversations or focus groups? Not all parents may feel comfortable with surveys or conversations. Provide an anonymous, easy way to share feedback at any time like an online form or suggestion box.
Act on Feedback and Share Power – Listening is only the first step! Be sure that you’re using feedback to drive program implementation. Ask parents to be a part of planning groups and advisory committees. Include parent perspectives when making implementation decisions. Ask parents to lead or co-lead activities and learning opportunities for their peers and staff. For more ideas on how to engage parents, explore the resources on Head Start’s Enhance Parents’ Advocacy and Leadership Skills page.
These websites are full of great resources and information to help those who have experienced trauma. Helping family members heal from trauma supports strong and thriving families.
Parents as Teachers Place
February is National Random Acts of Kindness Month. This is a great opportunity for individuals to show random acts of kindness to anyone for no specific reason. There are many ways to show random acts of kindness including saying nice words, being an active listener, allowing someone to go in front of you in a line, or simply smiling. Acts of kindness do not necessarily need to be extravagant. The important thing is to express the act of kindness, expecting nothing in return.
The Parents as Teachers National Center shared the long-lasting effects of kindness on the brain identified by a BBC research study. Check out this six-minute video about a woman who was kind every day for a year at BBC’s Kindness Study, or go to https://parentsasteachers.org/spread-cheer/ and select “BBC’s Kindness Study.”
Install Window Guards and Stops. Screens are meant to keep bugs out, not children in. Properly install an approved window screen guard to prevent unintentional window falls. For windows above the first floor, include an emergency release device in case of fire.
Play on Soft Surfaces at Playgrounds. Take your kids to playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces such as rubber, synthetic turf, sand, pea gravel, wood chips, or mulch. If your child falls, the landing will be more cushioned than on asphalt, concrete, grass, or dirt.
Prevent TV and Furniture Tip-overs. Secure TVs and furniture to the wall using mounts, brackets, braces, anchors, or wall straps to prevent tip-overs. These kinds of accidents happen more than you might think, so take a few minutes to secure your TV and furniture, and then never worry about it again.
