THE TOP TEN MESSAGES FOR
CREATING HAPPY, HEALTHY
FAMILIES
“Professional Best Practice”
Messaging
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS
IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
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6 Core Stories were developed by the Alberta Family Wellness
Initiative (Norlien Foundation)
Started with examining the gap between what Albertans think,
and what scientific research tells us, is true;
e.g. Albertans think of brain development as a “mysterious”
thing vs. scientific evidence of the many known factors and
pathway to optimum brain development
Goal is a common understanding of the science of early
childhood development across all of Alberta
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
CORE STORIES
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1. Brain Architecture
2. Skills beget skills
3. Serve and return
4. Can’t do one without the other
5. Toxic Stress
6. Pay now or pay later
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
OUR FOOTHILLS STORY
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Core story messages have been integrated into
the TOP TEN MESSAGES FOR CREATING HAPPY,
HEALTHY FAMILIES
When building capacity with parents,
caregivers, the community and our agency
partners, we will be promoting and facilitating
a common understanding of the science of
Early Childhood Development
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
PLAY WITH YOUR CHILD
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> Take time to play with your child
> Expose your child to unstructured play time
> Make time for children to play with other
children
> Participate with your child in active/outdoor play
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
MAKE TIME FOR FAMILY AND TRADITIONS
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Make family mealtimes important

Schedule family time as a priority

Continue to create and build family
traditions and culture
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES NURTURE FAMILIES
.... IT TAKES A VILLAGE ....
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It
is OK to ask for help
- From friends and family
- From community resources
Take
time to develop relationships in your community
Model
acceptance and respect for all people and
cultures
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
MAKE HEALTH AND WELLBEING A PRIORITY
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Encourage a balance of sleep and activity for your child’s
healthy development
Provide healthy food choices from Canada’s Food Guide
Prioritize regular visits for health checkups and
immunizations
Speak up for your child's wellbeing
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Look for support within the community for
prenatal and postnatal families
Recognize that emotional and social health is
as important as physical health
SUPPORT YOUR CHILD AS THEY GROW THROUGH
THE STAGES OF CHILDHOOD
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Provide opportunities for your baby and child to grow and
develop in many areas:
 Physical
- encourage awake tummy and floor time, and lots
of active play time
 Emotional
- respond quickly and
sensitively to babies and
children whenever they
need you
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
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 Cognitive
- provide a stimulating home, model problem solving
and help children develop new skills
 Language/Communication
- read, talk and listen when interacting with your
child.
 Social
- read with your child, spend time with them and give
them opportunities to play with other children
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR PARENTING
AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
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Recognize that parenting starts at conception and
is a lifelong process
Seek information from people and sources you
respect, and then trust your judgement
Speak up for yourself and your child
Take the time to learn about being a parent
Allow time for your own needs and relationships
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR
FAMILY EVERYDAY
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Children deserve our respect and will learn how to treat
others by how they are treated
Acknowledge that moms and dads are different and both
have strengths
Make sure children hear (from Barbara Coloroso)...
I believe in you...
I trust you...
I know you can handle this...
You are listened to...
You are cared for...
You are important to me...
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
PROVIDE LOVE AND LIMITS
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Show them and tell them you love them
Give your children the opportunity to try new things
Provide routines and rules that are realistic and
match your child’s development
Provide age appropriate choices and follow through
when needed
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
CELEBRATE PARENTING AND VALUE TIME
WITH YOUR CHILD
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Show your child affection
Talk, sing, read and play with your child
Include healthy ways to relax as a family
Celebrate your successes and share your struggles
as a parent
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
YOU ARE ... WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
IN YOUR CHILD’S LIFE
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Give your child the gift of your time; it is
what they need and want ......
It will strengthen your relationship
It will improve behaviour
It will increase learning
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
OUR FOOTHILLS STORY
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You, as a parent,
are the biggest contributor to
the story
of your child’s life!
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
REFERENCES
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Let’s Talk about the Early Years Report by the
Chief Medical Officer of Health - June 2011
Early Brain and Biological Development:
A Science in Society Symposium - June 2010
Center on the Developing Child Harvard
University
A Clinical Guide to Paediatric Sleep - 2010
A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE