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In "Parent Meetings: Creative Ways to Make Them Meaningful" (Exchange, May 2007), Karen Stephens offers many practical ideas for organizing and implementing successful parent meetings. Here are a few ideas she offered for making parenting meetings more meaningful and creative [Note: You can read this entire article in the Exchange Ideas for You �" FREE section on our homepage, www.ChildCareExchange.com]...

Wish Upon a Star
Give each parent a shiny cardboard star and a marker or pen. On one side of the star, ask them to write down (or draw a picture of) their hopes for their child. On the other side, ask them to write down or draw their dreams for their family. After writing/drawing is finished, ask parents to share their hopes and dreams with each other. Discuss specific ways for achieving our hopes for our children and dreams for our family. At meeting’s end, encourage parents to take their star home to share with their children. And they might want to hang the star in a window or post on the refrigerator as a reminder of their heart’s desire.

A Wonder from Childhood
Ask each parent to bring one special item that will reveal something special about his or her childhood. Suggestions might be a favorite book, toy, or nature item. Ask volunteers to share their item with the group. What made it special? What meaning does it hold? What items do they believe are special or full of meaning in their child’s life and why? How can we help children find things to love and cherish in life?

Bubbles for Reducing Stress
Give each parent a miniature bottle of bubble solution and wand (often sold as wedding reception table favors at party stores). Ask each parent to silently think of a parenting concern or minor worry from the day. Then blow bubbles together, imagining the bubbles carrying their worries away. Ask BRAVE participants to share their imaginings. As people share, how many are similar? Encourage parents to suggest productive ways for coping with the particular concerns expressed.

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Now you can purchase 180 Parenting Exchange articles authored by Karen Stephen's on one CD for the new low price of $49!

Topics addressed in the articles include:

• Attachment and Self Esteem
• Child Care and Work/Life Issues
• Discipline, Guidance, Temperament
• Family Routines; Play and Leisure
• Fears; Anxiety Related to Death, Tragedy, or War
• Friendship, Social Skills, Manners, Diversity
• Health, Nutrition, Safety, Hospitalization, Preventing Abuse
• Learning, Brain Development, Literacy, and Creativity
• Nature Connections and Pets
• Toddler and Twos Developmental Issues

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