Supporting Our Children Together:
Parent Education Workshops & Initiatives
2025-2026
As the school year unfolds, the Parent Education Committee continues to build a strong foundation of community learning and collaboration around the topics that matter most to families. In recent meetings, parents and staff shared priorities and ideas on how we can better support our children’s development—both at school and at home—through practical, Montessori-aligned approaches. Healthy eating, managing screen-time and creating friendships will be focus topics in the months to come.
Nurturing Independence and Healthy Choices
Our next Parent Education Session, scheduled for November 18, will explore how to help children make independent, healthy food choices. Parent Liv Lee will lead a conversation focused on encouraging curiosity and autonomy around eating, while providing strategies that honor children’s natural development and self-regulation.
Looking Ahead: Understanding Screen Time
In January, the committee will host a workshop on screen time, bringing together both Montessori and clinical perspectives. The session will explore how digital media influences children’s focus, creativity, and social-emotional growth—and how families can create healthy routines around technology.
The committee is working to finalize the date (targeting the second or third week of January) and to include voices from both our school community and external experts.
Planning is also ongoing for a March workshop on Social-Emotional Development focused on friends and play.
Building Community Through Conversation
To extend these conversations in between workshops, the committee welcomes you back to Parent Lounge Meetups—casual gatherings held after GPA meetings in the Shared Shelf parent lounge, located in the lobby of 2121 Arch Street. Books and resources are available in the Shared Shelf parent library. Join members of the Parent Education committee and other parents to connect, share experiences, and exchange ideas.
Shared Reading: Book Review Series
Starting in December, our Parent Education team will launch a monthly book review series, beginning with How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. This best seller by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish shares communication tools that help parents connect more deeply with their children while fostering cooperation and emotional awareness. A book review will be shared at the December GPA meeting, with opportunities for follow-up discussion and reflection. The books and reviews are available in the Shared Shelf Parent Lounge.
Together, we’re creating a culture of learning and reflection that supports every child’s growth—intellectually, emotionally, and socially—while strengthening the connections that make our parent community thrive.
Join us!
Below are highlights of past workshops.
Promoting Healthy Sleep Habits in Children with Dr. Sammy Dhaliwal, PhD, MSc
Exploring Neurodiversity in Montessori: A Conversation with Parents & Providers
Click here to learn more about this past Parent Ed Workshop.
Q&A Panel Discussion: Managing Difficult Toddler Behavior
Parent Education Series: Picking Apart Picky Eating
Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy: Understanding the Reasons and Benefits in Early Childhood by Practice Play OT and Expansion Speech Therapy
Parent Education Archives
We have so much more to share! Please check out more of our parent education workshop archives.