NCCL Feature: A closer look at... PRIORITIZING PARENTS

Ideas for Engagement + Links to Parent Project Resources:

We know that parents are the most powerful influence for virtually every child and youth outcome—personal, academic, social, and spiritual-religious; and that parents are the most important influence on the religious lives of children, youth, and even emerging adults. We need to make parents and caregivers a priority in catechetical ministry – allocating the time and programming to support, encourage, and educate parents. Here are several suggestions for becoming intentional about parent education and formation.

Develop parent relationships and programming by beginning with the real lives of parents. Focus on their motivations, schedules, commitments – and fashion approaches and activities around them. Too often we build parent programs and “require” parents to attend on our schedule and in our environment. Start by listening to parents first and then creating programming. Try NCCL’s Parent Cafe process for listening to parents: ncclcatholicfamilies.org/cafe.

Build on what motivates parents to participate in a program or activity: enhancing their parenting skills, building stronger family relationships, connecting with other parents, having meaningful conversations with their children/teens, sharing their story and faith, providing moral guidance, addressing technology and social media use, and more.

Develop a “Stage of Life” parent approach from young children through young adults. Provide a variety of activities to reach parents, such as: 1) in-person and online workshops, webinars, and courses; 2) a regular parent newsletter with developmental information and practical ideas (see NCCL Tip Sheets); 3) a resource kit for parents (digital) as they enter a new stage of life and parenting; 4) support groups for parents at each stage of life; and 5) parent mentoring that provides guidance and support from older parents and grandparents. NCCL has created a number of resources to help you implement a “Stage of Life” approach. Go to ncclcatholicfamilies.org/resource-center for all resources.

• Called to Parent - Workshops and guides for young children, children, teenagers, and young adults.
• Parent Workshops – Complete designs with a parent guide and tip sheet (Watch for new workshops on parenting for faith growth).
• Parent Tip Sheets - Practical “quick reference” guides on one specific practice or skill for effective parenting and faith formation.

Equip parents with the knowledge and skills for passing on faith at every stage so they can incorporate faith practices into the day-to-day religious practices of the family. Provide courses, workshops, webinars, mentoring, resources (digital, print, audio, video), small groups, and more, focused on: having family conversations about religious topics’ reading and discussing the Bible; praying as a family; participating in Sunday Mass; celebrating family rituals and milestones; celebrating holidays and seasons; engaging in actions of service, justice, and care for creation; talking about faith, and providing moral guidance.

Invite parents to a monthly “Just for Parents” webinar. Tell the parents to stay home and the parish will bring the program to them. Schedule the program later in the evening for 1 hour. Have a guest presenter on a topic of interest to parents (20-25 minutes), followed by break-out groups for discussion (try to organize by life stages), conclude by having parents share ideas and questions for the presenter, and close in prayer. Record the presentation and create a library of parent videos online available 24x7.

Discover the opportunities to add a parent component to existing programming. Add a parent experience when children and teens are meeting – a workshop, guest speaker, support group, etc. Add a parent component to vacation Bible school in the evenings or online that focuses on faith formation skills. Incorporate parent formation and education to preparation programs for Baptism, First Eucharist, First Reconciliation and Confirmation. Research other opportunities throughout the year.

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 Author:

John Roberto
NCCL Executive Director