Who We Are
Mercer Island Parent Edge is a program of the Mercer Island PTA Council. Our members are parent volunteers who work together to bring topics of interest to Mercer Island parents to learn, discuss and create community and connection. MI Parent Edge programs are funded with contributions from each of the Mercer Island PTA units.
Want to get involved? Email us at miparentedge@gmail.com
What We Do
Equipping families with ideas, insight, and community to help them thrive.
This year we're partnering with The Parent Venture, a non-profit organization, to showcase their line-up of well-known authors, speakers and parenting experts focusing on topics of highest interest to MI families.
What does that mean for you?
These events will be accessible in a variety of ways:
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LIVE WEBINAR - Join the live webinar. Register to attend via the links below and receive a Zoom link to join.
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WATCH A RECORDING - Parent Venture offers a comprehensive video library of past programs on a variety of topics (over 50 programs per year). The library is free to access. Search on specific topics of speakers.
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CONNECT IN PERSON - Join us for a "Parent Circle" -- an in-person gathering to create connections and learn through conversation with other MI parents
2025-26 Programs and Events
Growing Up in Public
Wednesday, NOVEMBER 4 · 12:00 PDT, Virtual event
Join this engaging conversation with Dr. Devorah Heitner, media and technology expert and author of Growing Up in Public and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World. The event will be moderated by Christy Keating from The Heartful Parent Collective.
Together, we'll explore how we can best support our kids as they navigate social media, AI tools, and the many challenges and opportunities of growing up in an increasingly connected world.
Can't make the date or time work? Register anyway! All registrants will receive an email with a recording of the event following the presentation, so you can watch at a time that works for you.
Register HERE (free)
Presented by
Building Belonging: Social-Emotional Learning and Learning Differences
Wednesday, NOVEMBER 4 · 5:30 PDT, Virtual event
In this Neurodiversity Education Series event, Christina Cipriano, PhD, Professor of Education at UMass Amherst and longtime researcher at the Yale Child Study Center, explores the connection between SEL, learning differences, and belonging. Parents/caregivers, educators, and community members welcome!
Register HERE (free)
Presented by
The Executive Function Playbook: Building Independence in Kids
Program Follow-Up
As a follow-up to the Executive Function Series, Mike McLeod has offered to answer follow-up questions at no cost. Please email your questions to Mike at mike@grownowadhd.com and let him know that you participated in the Mercer Island program series.
Parents, caregivers and educators are invited to join us for this 4-part series to learn how to support kids of all ages in strengthening their executive functioning skills. Each 60-minute webinar will provide tangible tips for adults to help children gain valuable skills to become more independent. This program is for all parents of children of all ages (K-12).
Want to read ahead? Get a copy of Mike Mcleod's book at our local Island Books - HERE!
Did you miss the live presentation?
View the recording and access resources!
Part 1: Executive Functioning at Home (recorded 4/28/26)
Message from MI Parent Edge and the Special Services and Learning Differences (SSALD) Team:
We want to acknowledge that the first session in this series resulted in some parents feeling more stressed or anxious than before hearing the information. This is not the intent of this Executive Function Series.
We recognize that some of the messaging around screen limits and technology didn’t account for the full range of kids in the room. For families navigating OCD, autism, nonverbal autism, or other complex profiles, blanket advice can land as blame rather than support, and that is not the tone we want to share with parents.
We shared this valuable feedback with the presenter. Our concerns were heard and the next session is intended to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all answer for our kids. The remaining sessions will offer concrete tools to help you support your child - with the understanding that not all tools will work for every child - and that we are all doing our best to support our kids!
Please join us for the remaining sessions in this series so that we can learn together and support one another.
Part 2: Executive Functioning at Home (recorded 5/5/26)
Part 3: Executive Functioning and Academics (recorded 5/21/26)
Part 4: Executive Functioning in Social Situations (recorded 5/28/26)
- Resource: Mike McLeod answers Parent Questions
Parent Webinar: Preventing Online Sexual Exploitation of Children & Teens
Parenting Resource
Parenting Mercer Island is an online tool that provides information and resources to address everyday parenting challenges. Learn a process that grows the skills our children need to be successful. Select the age of your child and then access a variety of topics!
Parents can also take part in a Parenting Mercer Island PARENT LAB -- in-person workshops that provide opportunities for learning, connection and support from MIYFS staff and counselors. Visit the PARENT LAB website for schedule, details and registration.
Parenting Mercer Island is provided by Mercer Island Youth and Family Services and the MI Healthy Youth Initiative.
More Webinars and Recordings!
Did you miss a webinar or are you looking for a specific parenting topic?
Visit our our partner site, Parent Venture, to access hundreds of free webinar recordings on a variety of parenting topics!
