50 Ways to Make a Difference

• Offer to baby-sit so parents can get a little break
• Listen to someone who needs to talk about what is going on in their life
• Coordinate a meal sign-up calendar for new parents or a neighborhood family in need
• Start or participate in a carpool to help families
• Organize a neighborhood party so families can meet each other
• Increase social connections by introducing yourself to a new neighbor or parent at pick up
• Get to know the children in your neighborhood and ask them how they are doing
• Ask a family if they need something picked up the next time you run to the store
• Schedule time for an activity that can help you decompress, relax and recharge
• Join or start a Circle of Parents group to find other parents like you
• Run an errand, shovel snow, or do yard work for a parent in your neighborhood
• Join the Luminaries by making a monthly pledge to Illuminate Colorado 
• Share positive stories about people and businesses helping families
• Share information about parenting and child development on your social media
• Raise awareness of child safety issues and helpful childproofing information
• Organize a moms’ or dads’ night out
• Put children’s books and information about programs that support families in your lobby and waiting areas
• Schedule family events at different times of the day and on different days of the week so more families can participate
• Add information about family-friendly resources on neighborhood websites like Nextdoor and help reduce stigma by letting others know you received support
• Remind people it’s okay to ask for and accept help
• Recognize a child or family in distress and offer support
• Host a play group at a local recreation or community center
• Connect parents to one another and to important resources for support
• Collaborate with childcare centers and schools by joining PTOs, volunteering in classrooms and participating in fundraising
• Check in with mothers and fathers to see how they are doing
• Promote a culture where it is okay for employees to reach out and ask for support
• Participate in an employee assistance program or maintain a list of available resources to support families
• Learn where your public officials stand on issues impacting children and families and vote
• Work with employees to manage workload in times of added stress and allow for flexibility
• Create a community brag board so employees can show off kids, pets, homes and hobbies
• Offer “lunch and learns” for employees or host a speaker to learn more about child development and child abuse prevention
• Support paid maternity/paternity leave for new parents (including adoptive and foster parents)
• Involve your organization in community events or sponsor a day of service for employees
• Smile and lend a hand to customers who are having a tough time with their children
• Make family-friendly spaces or activities available at your establishment.
• Pinwheels are the national symbol for child abuse prevention. Having them on display lets others know your space is family-friendly and you support strengthening families in your community.
• Offer to load groceries or other packages into the car for a parent with kids
• Learn about services for children and families in your community and make an emergency preparedness plan in case your family needs support
• Be kind to one another, especially on social media.
• Mentor for a young mother or father
• Learn the signs for postpartum depression and how to help
• Share your commitment to prevention with members of your community to inspire others to #LightTheWayCO
• Share articles, tips and/or resources in your newsletter about navigating parenting challenges
• Train staff and volunteers to create safe environments for children
• Offer space and time for parenting classes or support groups at your organization
• Host a townhall or community cafe to listen to the needs of parents in your community
• Get involved in developing or supporting a child maltreatment prevention plan in your community to strengthen families
• Volunteer to support young people involved in the foster care system
• Conduct a parenting book drive for the local library
• Call, text or chat a hotline or support line if you or someone you know needs help
• Offer to take the shopping cart back when you see someone with a child unloading groceries
• Give a supportive smile to the parent who just had to discipline their kid in public
• Compliment a parent you know is having one of those weeks.
• Remind parents that it’s okay not to know how to do everything