On Tuesday, October 28, Way to Grow families gathered at Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Minneapolis for Together We Grow, a parent education group. The session focused on parenting styles and positive discipline through hands-on activities that supported early learning and school readiness.
Parents split into English and Spanish-speaking groups to discuss practical discipline strategies using the Parents as Teachers curriculum. Meanwhile, children decorated pumpkins, practiced identifying shapes and colors, and listened to The Feelings Book/El libro de los sentimientos by Todd Parr—a bilingual story about understanding emotions.
Family Educator Ms. Maria watched as longtime group members welcomed a new family. “Together We Grow allows parents to get together, have fun, play with their children, do the activity, and learn,” she says. “Parents are relaxed, they enjoy themselves, and they support one another.”
Understanding Positive Discipline
The morning’s discussion centered on two Parents as Teachers handouts: “Positive Discipline” and “Helping Your Baby Learn About Limits.” These resources guided parents through the difference between natural consequences (a child gets cold after removing their coat) and logical consequences (redirecting a child who won’t stop hitting to a calmer activity).
Parents talked about keeping language positive and consistent. Instead of “Stop pounding your cup on the table,” try “We drink from our cup.” These small shifts help children understand expectations while building self-control.
The conversations were real and practical. Parents discussed bedtime battles, tantrums, and sibling conflicts. In this group setting, a sense of community grows because parents see others who are navigating the same challenges.
Building School Readiness Through Play
After the discussion, parents and children decorated pumpkins using tissue paper, pom poms, glue, and chenille stems. The activity supported multiple learning goals:
- Fine motor skills through tearing tissue paper and placing small pieces
- Shape recognition by identifying round pumpkins and diamond patterns
- Color naming with orange, yellow, and other autumn colors
- Following directions and working alongside caregivers
Ms. Maria also read The Feelings Book aloud. The story celebrates all kinds of emotions—happy, sad, silly, angry—helping toddlers understand that feelings are normal and valid. For young children learning to name emotions, this is foundational social-emotional development.
These activities build the school readiness skills children need for kindergarten and beyond. Way to Grow knows that early learning happens in everyday moments where parents and children create together.
What Is Together We Grow?
Together We Grow is a monthly parent education program for families enrolled in Way to Grow. Sessions are designed for pregnant mothers and caregivers with children up to 5 years old. Each session blends child health and development information with fun, hands-on activities, parent education, discussions, and community connection.
Sessions use the Parents as Teachers curriculum, an evidence-based model that emphasizes the parent as the child’s first and most important teacher. Our Family Educators provide families with tools, strategies, and support for nurturing early learning at home.
Each Together We Grow session includes:
- Parent discussion topics on positive discipline, child development, and health
- Literacy and numeracy themes like colors, shapes, and numbers
- Children’s books read aloud in English and Spanish when possible
- Parent-child activities that support learning through play
- Songs and movement for language development and hands-on learning
- Time for parents to connect and support one another
The program is made possible through support from the Sheltering Arms Foundation, which ensures enrolled families can participate at no additional cost.
Why Parent Education Matters
Research from the Parents as Teachers National Center shows that parent programs help children develop, make parent-child relationships stronger, and reduce stress. When parents feel supported and connected, children benefit.
Together We Grow creates that support. These monthly gatherings offer a space where caregivers share struggles, celebrate milestones, and learn from one another. Parents leave with practical strategies and the reassurance that they’re not alone.
For children, group settings introduce social skills like sharing, turn-taking, and emotional regulation. The activities support early literacy, numeracy, and fine motor development. Children also see their parents engaged in learning alongside them, which models curiosity and growth.
Ms. Maria sees the impact every month. “I saw the way families welcomed a new family. They connected and supported one another right away,” she says. “That sense of belonging matters.”
How Together We Grow Fits into Way to Grow Programs
Way to Grow believes that the earliest years shape a lifetime. From pregnancy through third grade, we walk alongside families, offering home visits, parent groups, preschool programs, and reading support. Together We Grow is one piece of that journey—a monthly reminder that families are stronger together.
A parent learns a new way to handle a tantrum. A toddler discovers the color ‘ongey’ (orange). A new family finds their place in the group. These moments build confidence, connection, and a strong foundation for school.
Enroll in Way to Grow
If you’re pregnant or have a child up to third grade, Way to Grow offers programs to support your family. Together We Grow parent groups are available for families with children up to age 5.
Ready to enroll? Visit waytogrow.org/enroll to learn more about our programming and get started.
Do you know someone who could benefit from Way to Grow? Share this post and help connect families to personalized education and holistic, wrap-around support.
