This document proposes a session for SXSWEdu 2018 on family engagement in hands-on learning. It will examine research from the Smithsonian's Draper Spark!Lab on how signs, instructions, and staff interactions influence how parents engage in learning activities. The session will provide strategies for moving parents from disengagement or over-involvement to active participation. Attendees will leave with practical tips for empowering parents to support hands-on learning while keeping activities child-centered.