Equipping families with ideas, insight, and community to help them thrive.

Not familiar with Parent Edge? Find more info at miparentedge.org

February Highlights

Welcome to our February highlights! We have curated a selection of videos and webinars featuring leading psychologists, educators and thinkers on topics of interest for our community. We hope you learn something new that will help you and your family. Keep an eye out for more next month!

* To access events, sign-up and register or view by clicking the event links in blue!

Born to Be Wild: Why Teens Take Risks, and How We Can Help Keep Them Safe

When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mr. Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids

In Born to Be Wild, Jess Shatkin, MD, MPH, sheds new light on why young people make dangerous choices – and offers solutions that work.

Born to Be Wild.
Tuesday, February 27, 5:30pm PT
Virtual Event (Live)

Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed

Dashka Slater, NYT bestselling author of The 57 Bus and Accountable, tackles the question, Where does accountability end for online speech that harms?

View the video here: Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed

* Miss a live event? Tune into the Video Library, a free resource with recordings of 250+ Parent Ed events. Click here.

Parent Forum (Virtual and Free!)

Hosted by Parent Venture, the virtual Parent Forum gives parents (from all around the country and maybe globe!) a chance to talk to communication expert Dr. Eran Magen. The upcoming topic is "How to Give Advice Your Child (Might) Listen To."

When: Friday, February 9 @ 12-1pm PST
Click HERE to reserve a spot

Dr. Eran Magen is the founder of Parenting for Humans.

Neurodiversity Speaker Series

Check out the Neurodiversity Speaker Series that starts this month and runs to September. The series features a lineup of renowned experts, including educators, mental health professionals, and advocates specializing in neurodiversity. It provides families with valuable insights and tools to better support and connect with neurodivergent learners, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and more.

*All events take place live virtually on Zoom from 5:30 to 6:30pm PST. Please RSVP for event details and Zoom links. Events will be recorded for asynchronous viewing.

Recap of Healthy Youth Forum

You Belong, You Matter

On January 31, Mercer Island's Healthy Youth Initiative hosted a wonderful night of sharing from the youth of our community about their experiences and what they wished their parents knew about their lives. Well done the MI youth who spoke eloquently on behalf of their community!

We were excited to hear a special word from Jennifer Wallace (author of "Never Enough") who spoke directly to the MI community, first empathizing with the unique challenges and pressures our kids face, but challenging us to ensure our kids knew and felt how they mattered to their families and community.

2023-24 Program Themes

Technology and Digital Lives

Achievement Pressure

Social and Emotional Skill Building

Based on survey feedback from parents about topics most important to them, we will spotlight these three themes. This year we've partnered with Parent Venture, a non-profit organization, to showcase their line-up of well-known authors, speakers and parenting experts that focus on topics of highest interest to MI families.

What does that mean for you? These events will be accessible in a few ways:

Live webinar
Recorded programs (over 25 programs this year) and a large library of past programs
Spotlighted Parent Edge programming
Parent Circles: in-person, follow-up group conversations

New to the district? Wondering what Parent Edge is all about? Check out more info here.

Mercer Island Parent Edge is a program within the Mercer Island PTA Council.
We coordinate events and programs for parents, students and educators.
Our goal is to encourage dialogue and share best practices.

SUBJECT: Parent Edge February Overview