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Timely investment: Half-hour a day with kids

Mayor signs DPS promise to be an involved parent

By Nancy Mitchell, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 17, 2008 at 7:43 p.m.
Updated September 18, 2008 at 1:03 a.m.

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Get on board Denver Public Schools community specialist Michael Simmons talks with grandparent Helen Garcia about the new Mile High Parents campaign that will encourage parents to spend 30 minutes each school day supporting their children's education.

Photo by Judy Dehaas / The Rocky

Get on board Denver Public Schools community specialist Michael Simmons talks with grandparent Helen Garcia about the new Mile High Parents campaign that will encourage parents to spend 30 minutes each school day supporting their children's education.

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Mayor John Hickenlooper signed his name with a flourish Wednesday morning, cameras snapping as he publicly committed not to a new multimillion-dollar city contract but to spending time with a 6-year-old - his son, Teddy.

Hickenlooper was among the first to join Denver Public Schools' Mile High Parents campaign, which asks parents to commit to spending 30 minutes each school day to their children.

Add those 30 minutes up and, over the course of the school year, it works out to about 5,280 minutes.

"It's not a huge amount of time," said the mayor - who recounted how he and Teddy alternate reading paragraphs to each other - prior to officially launching the campaign in front of Whittier K-8 School in northeast Denver.

Parents at 35 schools across the city will be asked to make the "5280" pledge. In return, they'll get daily tracking forms and tips for how to spend that 30 minutes with their children.

They'll also become eligible for prizes such as gas and grocery gift cards, Colorado Ballet tickets and starter accounts at CollegeInvest to help save for college.

"The campaign is very simple," said Marlene De La Rosa, chairwoman of the DPS Parent Empowerment Council and the mother of twin ninth-graders.

She was doing exactly what she's advocating - hanging out with her son, Laphonso, a math lover - when they came up with the 5280 concept.

"I told him what I was thinking about and he calculated out the amount of time," said De La Rosa, a court clerk for the Department of Justice. "It actually works out to about 30.7 minutes each day."

Stephanie Hoy, executive director of the nonprofit Assets for Colorado Youth, said volunteer "ambassadors" at the 35 pilot schools will work with parents. The group, which is managing the campaign, is figuring out how parents can track their time online.

"This is really simple stuff," Hoy said of the ideas for spending time together. "It doesn't mean it's easy, but it doesn't have to be complicated."

Still, 30 minutes a day may be tough for some. At Whittier, Veronica Miera heard about the campaign after dropping off her two youngest children.

She's juggling work, GED classes, three kids and the bus system.

"It's a good idea," Miera said of the campaign. "It is kind of hard to squeeze 30 minutes in your day. I'm lucky if I read even 15 minutes with my kids."

mitchelln@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5245

5280 pledge Denver Public Schools' Parent Empowerment Council on Wednesday launched the Mile High Parents campaign. It asks parents to commit to spending 30 minutes each school day with their student.

* What to do with that time?

1. Eat breakfast with your child.

2. Ask your child what was best about his/her day.

3. Walk the dog together.

4. Read the newspaper or watch the news together.

5. Read the same book your child is reading.

6. Tell your child about your family traditions.

7. Eat a healthy snack together after school.

8. Set aside one day each week for no computers or TV.

9. Introduce yourself to your child's teacher.

10. Walk, ride your bikes or drive your child to school.

* How can I help my child with homework?

ed.gov/parents/ Click on the "Helping Your Child" button to find help with reading, math, science and history.

pta.org/ Click on "Topics" on the top left of the page. Then click on "Student Success." The parent group offers advice when children "forget" homework and other issues.

askcolorado.org A 2 4/7 service from Colorado libraries includes a site for kids and teens doing homework.

* To learn more about the 5280 pledge, visit milehighparents.org.

Comments

  • September 24, 2008

    6:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    cclaver writes:

    What a sad state of affairs that we have to sign a pledge with the concept of gaining incentives to spend time with our most cherished relationships. If this does not define some of the social ills of the United States, I am not sure what does.
    Do you really have to be given ideas for what to do with your kids? Just be with them, delight in them. There doesn't have to be any structure. Just be there.

  • September 25, 2008

    11:06 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    rsm writes:

    What a wondeful way to show parents how important they are to their children. This campaign will broaden the discussion of what parent engagement means. I hope the parents that are involved enjoy their incentives with their families!