Join the conversation!
Welcome!
Parent Café:
The Early Years
a resource for engaging in
strength-based conversations
in support of early childhood
development
Education for Communities, Communities for Education
Developed by
and for the
community…
led by Café
Institute and
its partners.
What is the
Café Institute?
(Community Assets for
Education):
an Alberta-based society of volunteers and
educators dedicated to bringing together
families, schools and the broader community
in support of learning and development.
…bringing a
community
development
approach to
learning and
action.
Education for Communities, Communities for Education
A new way of
working together…
A strength-based, community
development approach requires a shift…
• From problems
possibilities
• From needs
to assets
• From clients
citizens
• Power comes from relationships
Elements of Assetbased community
development.
(J. McKnight, J. Kretzman,
2003)
Community
Conversations …
•
Can be grounded in a ‘cup
half-full,’ asset-based orientation:
To highlight possibilities
Appreciative inquiry, a positively–focused
inquiry highlights shared caring and
possibilities and potential for building on
success.
•
To engage assets
Highlights the what we have to work with gifts of community: individuals, associations,
institutions.
•
To build capacity
Learning together can lead to action.
Engaging with new knowledge, relationships
and resources.
What is the
power of a
conversation?
Offers a space to…
connect to something we care deeply
about and dream of possibilities..
connect and build supportive
relationships.
validate our own strengths, assets and
current capacity.
Did you know?
Purposeful conversations
are being used around
the world to solve
complex social issues –
It all begins with a
conversation …
*Born, P. (2008)
Community Conversations
share and learn together, finding
wisdom of the group.
identify opportunities to develop further
capacity and take action.
identify and share locally available and
often untapped resources and assets.
be inspired to take further action.
The future of our
communities…
How are children in our
community currently
doing?
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Why the
early years?
But the good news is a
movement is brewing…
More than half of Alberta’s
children were experiencing
difficulty in at least one of
these five areas of
development:
•
•
•
•
•
Physical health & well-being;
Emotional maturity;
Social competence;
Language & thinking skills; and
Communication skills & general
knowledge.
(2014, Early Development Instrument, EDI, Early
Childhood Mapping Project, Government of Alberta)
Individuals are supporting children in in
their family, community, and professional
lives.
Coalitions of caring people and
organizations established through Alberta’s
EC Map project are working together.
Many associations and institutions;
agencies, research bodies and community
educators are making the early years a
priority in their work.
First 2000 Days Early Childhood
Network, a collaboration of individuals and
organizations joined by a common goal that all
children from conception to six are supported
by family and community in order to reach
their optimal development.
Café is proud to be a part of this growing
movement!
What needs
to be shared?
Scientists across fields agree on the
‘core story’ of brain development ….
•
The foundation for a healthy brain is built in the early
years of a child’s life, with lifelong impacts on learning,
behavior and health. A child’s relationships, environment
and experiences will impact how their brain is built!
•
Brains are built from the bottom up – it is easiest and
most effective to get this right the first time.
•
Ongoing stress can derail healthy development in young
children.
•
“Serve and return” interactions between children and
caregivers are essential building blocks for brain
development.
•
While development of executive function and selfregulation will continue into adulthood, the foundational
skills learned in early childhood will greatly influence all
future social and learning behavior.
•
Children can not reach their potential on their own;
they need the support of family, community and society as a
whole.
“...early experiences
are built into our
bodies for better or
for worse and the
influence of the early
years can affect a
lifetime of learning ,
behavior and health”.
- Jack Shonkoff
Supporting adults
who make a
difference…
Why engage the important
adults that support children?
Current research supports the need to improve the
awareness and understanding of ECD:
The Benchmark Study suggests:
• “improved child outcomes may begin with parents’
knowledge of child development.”
• “parents and other adults who interact with children
are well-positioned to influence the ….development of
children.”
Frameworks Institute research identifies:
• misguided notions of how the brain develops affect our
ability to think about what can be done and who is
responsible.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard’s Theory of Change
informs:
• improving child outcomes through building capacity of
adults who are important in the lives of young
children.
We know that
children cannot reach
their potential on
their own; they need
the support of family,
community and
society as a whole.
Knowing that outcomes
improve with
collaboration and social
capitol, Parent Café
offers a forum to
explore how WE can all
work together to best
support children!
Now that’s a great reason
for a conversation!
What is Parent Café:
The Early Years?
What is it
about a
conversation
that feels
different from
a more
traditional
learning
environment?
Education for Communities, Communities for Education
Parent Café: the
Early Years is…
A resource for hosting strength-based,
café-style conversations designed to…
•
reaffirm the key role of parents and caregivers
along with the broader community in supporting
child development.
•
share and learn together to strengthen awareness
of “the core story” and early childhood development
•
foster relationships, connections and mutual
support among families, communities and service
providers.
•
validate the current knowledge and capacity of
parents and caregivers.
•
highlight and share all available resources and
supports.
•
support capacity and inspire further action.
Our goal is to:
Build
awareness and
capacity of
parents and
caregivers in
support of
early childhood
development.
Parent Café Early Years offers a series of
conversation starters for sparking dialogue among
parents and caregivers. Accompanying resources and
information to share with parents are provided.
Some sample questions…
Why are
the early
years so
important?
What are
some ways
you are
supporting
your child’s
development?
What kind of
environment
and
relationships
support
healthy brain
development?
How do you
play and have
fun with your
child?
Why is play
important?
What are your
strengths as a
parent?
How do you
share these
strengths with
your child, with
other children?
Education for Communities, Communities for Education
Who are the
people,
places or
programs in
your
community
that can help
support your
child?
What is the Parent
Café Story?
How did the resource
come to be?
Education for Communities, Communities for Education
Parent Café
evolves…
to support the early years…
•
Begins with Neighbourhood Literacy development initiative with
Calgary Reads (2008).
•
Evolves to Parent Café: the School Years (Café’s conversation
series for supporting learning in K-3, (2010-2012).
•
Café’s support of Bowness area EC Map coalition leads to
connections with other coalitions and engagement as part of the
First 2000 Days Early Childhood Development Network
(2013).
•
Café supported by network partners and coalitions to adapt
and develop Parent Café conversations for the early years.
Developed and piloted first conversations in collaboration with
Ready4Learning, Bowness.
•
Integration of Alberta Family Wellness Initiative ‘Core Story’
messaging and resources.
•
Formatted for adaptability and accessibility for use by coalitions
and organizations across province.
•
Continues to evolve as we capture the experience and lessons
learned from resource users.
Parent Café:
A truly
collaborative
community
developed and
owned
resource.
What was discovered in the
Early Years pilot conversation
series with Ready4Learning?
- The experience was overwhelmingly positive
and helpful
- Greater awareness of ECD reported
- New interactions with child were identified
- Further conversations were requested
- Conversations recommended to others
Education for Communities, Communities for Education
Further
learnings…
Participants reported…
Things they had done
differently:
Increased awareness of:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
stress and its impacts
serve and return
validation of current behaviors
brain development; the Core
Story
self regulation
importance of play
importance of positive
communication
5 areas of development
more time actually “listening”/ giving
undivided attention
using breathing to calm tantrums and
regulate emotion
awareness when the kids are stressed
and helping to de-stress and
reduce stress
more interaction/play/serve and return
more dedicated playtime
working to talk and speak WITH rather
than speak AT
watching my tone of voice
general awareness with interactions
giving more time for child to process
and respond
Learning from
experience
Ready 4 Learning’s team reflects
on the early years conversations…
•
Parents seemed more inspired to act than when was information shared
in previous programs
•
Parents expressed feelings of opportunity rather than being
overwhelmed with the information. Delivering the information to parents of
younger children seemed significant.
•
Practical resources and ideas for action were very well received.
•
Recommended showing the core story video in segments with relevant
accompanying questions to better help parents connect the brain development
information and their opportunities to support their child (now available).
•
Parents were asking for more! While there is a feeling of wanting to
catch this enthusiasm, with the Parent Café goal to “light the fire” and
inspire parents to engage in further capacity building opportunities, Ready
4Learning will continue with 3-4 session model.
•
Early Years conversations series should be offered in other early care
and learning centres, with the goal of building on the success of these
first conversations (now in progress).
Further developed
for all to use…
How is the Parent Café:
Early Years resource organized?
• Themes – follows the 4 ‘core story’ segments, with additional
Calgary Reads early literacy theme.
• Conversation starters - with accompanying key messages
• Corresponding hosting notes - for further support and resources
for each question.
• Hosting guide - for background and planning purposes
• Resources – a consolidation of accompanying resources and
recommended reading
• Learning together – hard copies and Survey monkey links for
both participant and host reflections and evaluations
• Overview of brain development – power point presentation
More Early Years
Parent Café to come…
More on
Social and
Emotional
Development
Play! Why it
matters
Mobilizing
Community
to Support
ECD
Physical
Health and
Wellness
Suggestions?
Education for Communities, Communities for Education
How can you
become a part of
this collaborative
resource?
Education for Communities, Communities for Education
An invitation to:
become part of this
learning journey…
•
Use/share/adapt conversations in any way.
•
Capitalize on all opportunities to host conversations.
•
Share your input and experience on the early years
Facebook page.
•
Share quality resources with others through Café
website, evaluations and the Facebook page.
•
Complete the evaluations and contribute to the
development of the resource.
•
Contribute to emerging themes and topics.
•
Contact Café to organize additional orientations.
•
Parent Café packages and Literacy in the Community
resources available for purchase through Calgary Reads
at: http://store.calgaryreads.com
In committing
to learning
together we
have the
opportunity to
harness our
collective
wisdom!
Moving forward…
Reflections on the Early Years
conversation opportunity in your
work/community…
•
What stands out for you about this resource?
•
How do you see this conversation resource supporting the
parents/caregivers in your work/community?
•
What information or resources do you need to move
forward with the conversations?
www.cafeinstitute.org
[email protected] 403-287-0611
Join the conversation –
Host your own Early Years
conversation café’s!
Café invites you to explore and use our resources
in a way that works for you or your organization and
the parents you hope to host.
Our conversation starters, orientation sessions,
reference materials and ongoing support for Parent
Café conversation hosts are designed to support your
work and passion.
In return, we ask that you share with us your
learnings and experiences from using these
resources in your organization and your community
in the interest of developing a relevant and effective
resource…
For more
information
Contact Café
at:
info@
cafeinstitute.org
Education for Communities, Communities for Education