PTO - Want to Get Involved - What's an "Easy" Job?

Updated on August 15, 2011
M.O. asks from Barrington, IL
9 answers

I'm looking for something I can do from home...someone suggested the Box Tops program?

I'd love to help, but am a SAHM with a toddler running around. That limits me from "helping" in the school much.

Any suggestions on what do sign up for and what to avoid?

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K.J.

answers from Chicago on

Box tops is very easy, and you can do it at your own pace.

I volunteer to sanitize toys for my son's pre-school. A few times a month I take some of the toys home, soak them in bleach water, rinse, drip dry, and return them a few days later. Very easy.

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J.D.

answers from Cincinnati on

I have a full time job so I can't really help at the school unless its in the evening and thats not an option. I cut box tops.
You could help out at some of the fund raisers. Our school does some activties on Saturdays throughout the year like Christmas with Santa and theres an indoor carnival. They usually need volunteers to setup or clean up or of course run one of the booths.

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K.B.

answers from Tulsa on

box tops, cut shapes and such for K/1 teachers, update website,
upload photos

2 moms found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I was president of the HMO (home school organization) a few years and knew what needed to be done. Contact your PTO president and express your desire to help and ask what you can do from home.

Also consider personally helping your child's teacher, I used to organize homework packets for the following week on weekends at home for one and she was so appreciative ; )

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

my kids school's have tons of stuff parents can do at home, just ask ; ) cutting box tops, at holidays they sell grams with suckers that kids can send each other & they always need pumpkins, christmas trees, hearts etc cut for them & suckers attached, etc

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T.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Box Tops is good because it is flexible as far as when you count and bundle the box tops. They need to be in groups of 50 (on sheets or in plastic bags). I've had one of the Scout Troops help count and was thinking of having a counting party and serving coffee. You can make it how it best serves you and provide a wonderful thing for your school!

Also you could look for project based things that fit into your skills as the year goes by. Admin support, calls, things like that might work....

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L.M.

answers from New York on

The first step is to become a member of the PTO and go to a meeting. Find out what type of activities they do. It's hard to give you suggestions without that information, but here's a few...
teacher's breakfast - bake some muffins
fund raising - tally up order forms
local business fund raising - mail letters, make phone calls
grocery store register your card programs - offer to enter card numbers into the website

You should also ask the teacher directly if there's anything she could use help with.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Ask the PTO. Sometimes the classroom teacher needs things done for her classroom that can be done at home.

I used to do the book orders (Scholastic) for all 4 of the kinder teachers..

When we were prepping for the fall carnival, I bundled tickets to be sold.

The office sometimes needed packets made.

Input information for the school directory, helping with the PTO website.

We had a school sign out front and once a week it needed to be changed out.. It was easy and only took a few minutes.

Ask the Music, Art or PE teachers if there are things you can do from home to help them..

Also I used to encourage parents to pair off with another parent to do projects from home.. Especially if you see another mom with a child your daughters age.. You guys can meet at each others homes to work on projects.

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R.K.

answers from Boston on

Research your pto first. I live in a small town and there is way too much drama involved that I dont want to get mixed up in. I go to the school and directly ask teachers if there is anything I can help them with. Counting and bundling Popsicle sticks for crafts, cutting letters, organizing worksheets, etc

1 mom found this helpful
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