Blog

Welcome to the Way to Grow blog! Here you’ll find parenting tips, early childhood resources, and stories from home visits across the Twin Cities. We believe parents are their child’s first and most important teacher, and our home visiting model is built around that: bringing tools, activities, and encouragement right into the home. Browse for book recommendations, everyday learning ideas, program updates, and family stories from across our community.

Thank you, Barnes & Noble! 3334 1459 Maren Nelson

Thank you, Barnes & Noble!

Way to Grow recently received over 1,403 books from a Barnes & Noble holiday book drive at their Mall of America location. These beautiful new books were sorted by age level, making it easy for our Family Educators to distribute much needed books to the families they serve. We are so thankful for companies like Barnes & Noble…

read more
Welcome, New Staff! 3334 1459 Maren Nelson

Welcome, New Staff!

Meet our new Family Educator, Roxanne! What brings you to Way to Grow? I have felt aligned with values of Way to Grow’s mission and vision for some time now. After a friend mentioned Way to Grow in conversation about a month ago, I was happy to find, apply for, and accept a position that…

read more
Meeting Challenges this Season: Nimo’s Story 3334 1459 Way to Grow

Meeting Challenges this Season: Nimo’s Story

Nimo and her family have been working with Way to Grow for over 10 years, with the help of their dedicated and enthusiastic Family Educator, Shamsa. Three of Nimo’s six children have been enrolled in Way to Grow, and Nimo can see the difference between their performance in school and the older children, who were not…

read more
State of Way to Grow: 2019 Annual Report & 2020 Update 800 350 Way to Grow

State of Way to Grow: 2019 Annual Report & 2020 Update

A letter from our CEO, Carolyn Smallwood 2019 was a big year for Way to Grow. Not only did we celebrate our 30th anniversary, we built a solid foundation for our programming by implementing the Parents as Teachers curriculum, integrating three internal database systems, maintaining our metrics, and expanding the number of schools reached by…

read more
Living Generously: Helpful tax hints for 2020 gifts 3334 1459 Jessica Waller

Living Generously: Helpful tax hints for 2020 gifts

Now is the perfect time to support Way to Grow’s vision to ensure every child has an opportunity to succeed in school and life – and enjoy extra tax benefits for your generosity.  Taxpayers who don’t itemize gifts on their tax returns can receive up to a $300 tax deduction for 2020 gifts. Taxpayers who do itemize…

read more
Meeting Challenges This Season 8000 3960 Way to Grow

Meeting Challenges This Season

With the holidays approaching, we are reminded that many families are still in need. In addition to the challenges they face with virtual learning, many families are also dealing with unemployment, food insecurity, and social isolation, all of which have an impact on children’s mental health. A recent study by Save the Children has shown…

read more
Family Fun: Wax Crayon Resist Art 3334 1459 Way to Grow

Family Fun: Wax Crayon Resist Art

It can be hard to find fun activities to keep kids busy indoors during the cold winter months. Tap into their creativity with this fun snowflake art!  You will need: white wax crayon, white paper, watercolor paint, paint brush, cup of water, salt Step 1:Draw a design on a white piece of paper with a white crayon. (This…

read more
Give to the Max Day success! 600 600 Maren Nelson

Give to the Max Day success!

Thank you for your contributions to Way to Grow to our Give to the Max Campaign. With your help, we raised over $7,300—with $5,000 of your gifts matched by one of our generous sponsors!  Many families are facing difficult times this year, and our Family Educators are going above and beyond to keep connecting with the…

read more
A New Face at Preschool Pals 2500 1459 Way to Grow

A New Face at Preschool Pals

Meet our new Preschool Teacher, Melissa! Tell us a little bit about you! I have worked in the Early Childhood field for 27 years. I have my Bachelor’s Degree in Early childhood Education. What brings you to Way to Grow? What attracted me to Way to Grow is the organization’s value of connecting the parents…

read more
Deborah & Patty 600 600 Maren Nelson

Deborah & Patty

Our unique home visit model allows us to work directly with our community’s most isolated children and their families. Over time we see changes not only in children but also in their parents, with greater parent engagement and self-sufficiency. Through education, we tackle the impact of poverty and help families move forward with lasting results. As families grow,…

read more
Living Generously: Counting our blessings 2560 1707 Jessica Waller

Living Generously: Counting our blessings

As we approach Thanksgiving, please know that Way to Grow is counting its blessings and is extremely thankful for the great support we have received this year. Despite the challenges that 2020 has presented to all of us, Way to Grow continues to serve children and families because we have the support of individuals, foundations, and…

read more
Way to Grow in the News 1080 400 Way to Grow

Way to Grow in the News

School enrollment has felt the impact of the current pandemic. Way to Grow was recently in the news as part of a larger discussion on school enrollment and the drastic choices families face. In a Star Tribune article from October 19, our CEO Carolyn Smallwood outlines the challenges families face: “Pandemic pushes down Minnesota kindergarten enrollment.”…

read more
Way to Grow
Accreditations

Parents as Teachers Affiliate
Parent Aware Ratings
NAEYC

Newsletter

© 2025 Way to Grow

Enter your
text here

    Your Name (required)

    Address

    City

    Zip

    Your Email (required)

    Phone

    Preferred contact method:

    EmailPhoneEither

    Available days:
    SunMonTuesWedsThursFriSat

    Time of day available:
    MorningAfternoonEvenings

    Services interested in:
    preschoolspecial projectsteen parentsadministrativeeventsother

    Opportunity interested in:

    Language(s) Spoken besides English:
    AmharicArabicHmongOromoSomaliSpanish

    Other languages spoken:

    Emergency contact (name, phone, relationship):

    Volunteer agreement (required):

    I understand that during the course of my volunteering at Way to Grow, I may come in contact with information that is deemed confidential. This includes, but is not limited to, personal information about Way to Grow participants. I understand that Way to Grow is required by law to keep this information confidential, and I will treat all information I come across as such unless I am told otherwise.

    I understand and agree that I am volunteering for Way to Grow at my own risk and request. I also give permission for the free use of my name, picture and voice in any broadcast, telecast, print account or any other account in any medium of the event being recorded.

    I Accept

    Additional Message: