Hosting Guide

Did you know that the foundation for a healthy brain is “built" during the first 2000 days of a child’s life.

Now that’s a great reason for a conversation!

This publication is available from:

Community Assets for Education (Café) InstitutePhone: 403-287-0611

www.cafeinstitute.org

This material may be used for educational, non-commercial purposes with the written permission from the Café Institute. The Café Institute supports the use of the Parent Café resources by individuals/organizations who have participated in the Parent Café Hosting orientation workshop.

Parent Café Recommended Resources The resources recommended by Café have been consolidated with input from participants, educators, parent leaders and community partners engaged in the 2010-2012 pilot program and the subsequent development of the early years themes. Given an overwhelming amount of information now available to parents, the intention for recommending resources is to provide a starting point that may be helpful for participants to build capacity in accessing relevant information, supports and expertise rather than provide a comprehensive listing. Given different contexts and preferences, Café recognizes that resources may resonate differently with each conversation host, parent, or educator depending on their context.

Café invites Parent Café hosts to provide ongoing feedback and to make recommendations for quality resources and connections that may be helpful for parents, caregivers or anyone working in support of healthy early childhood development. Please feel free to contribute your recommendations and comments regarding resources to the Café community at info@cafeinstitute.org, or contact us about joining our Parent Café Early Years Conversations group on Facebook.

HOSTING GUIDETABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgements...............................................................................................................................................4

WHY conversation and the early years?........................................................................................................5

Parent café: the Early Years resource............................................................5WHY the early years?.....................................................................................5How are children in Alberta doing?................................................................6What do Albertans know about ECD?.............................................................6WHY conversations?.......................................................................................7WHY parents and caregivers?........................................................................8Aligning with current research.......................................................................8

WHAT is Parent Café?..........................................................................................................................................9

A Conversation Resource…............................................................................9The Parent Café Story....................................................................................9Parent Café:..................................................................................................10The Early Years............................................................................................10Supporting Meaningful Conversations..........................................................15

HOW to host a Café conversation?................................................................................................................17

Who is a Parent Café host?...........................................................................17How will YOU use this resource?..................................................................17Potential Formats for Hosting Conversations...............................................18Promoting Your Café –Getting Parents on Board..........................................21Making it happen..........................................................................................21Using the Parent Café Cards........................................................................22Helpful Hosting Techniques..........................................................................24What are we learning?.................................................................................25

Hosting guide Resources and References................................................................................................................ 27

Community and Conversation Further Readings…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...………….28

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Acknowledgements

The Parent Café resource has been developed with the benefit of lessons learned through Café’s first pilot program implemented in Calgary from 2010-12. The Parent Café conversation café approach was first developed in partnership with Calgary Reads for parents with school age children for supporting literacy and was expanded to include additional strength-based themes that support learning. This pilot initiative was made possible by:

• Calgary Reads• Calgary Board of Education participating schools • Families Matter• Financial support was provided through individual donors, City of

Calgary Strong Neighbourhoods Initiative, Calgary Reads and AB Government Community Spirit program.

• Café would like to thank the supporters, parent leaders, teachers, educators, and administrators who opened their doors to parents and the community, provided valuable feedback, and in doing so modeled the underlying vision of Café.

Café appreciates the support of Ready4Learning, Calgary Reads and our partners of the First 2000 Days Early Childhood Development Network who have been instrumental in developing and sharing the Parent Café: the Early Years conversations.

Café is working to disseminate the quality emerging research on the developing brain and associated best practices coming from organizations and post-secondary institutions, such as the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative, the Norlien Foundation, Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research and Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

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The First 2000 Days Network is a collaboration of individuals and organizations, joined by a common goal: All children from conception to six are supported by family and community in order to reach their optimal development (www.2000days.ca).

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WHY conversation and the early years?Strength-based conversation can generate discussion, and allow sharing of

knowledge, experience and resources. Parent Café is a resource for hosting parents and caregivers in purposeful conversation in support of early childhood development. The Parent Café resource is designed to:

reaffirm the key role of parents and caregivers, within the broader community, in supporting child development

build awareness and understanding of ‘the core story of brain development’ and early childhood development

• foster relationships, connections and mutual support by bringing people together in dialogue.

• validate the current knowledge and capacity of parents and caregivers.• highlight and share available resources and supports.• support capacity and inspire further action

The critical nature and lasting impact of the first 2000 days of a child’s life are now undeniable. The relationships, environment and experiences of a child during their early years will literally shape how their brain is built and have lifelong impacts. Scientists across all fields of early childhood development have informed ‘the core story of brain development’ which tells us:

The foundation for a healthy brain is built in the early years of a child’s life, and will impact learning, behavior and health, both mental and physical, for the rest of that

child’s life. A child’s experiences will impact how their brain is built! Positive

relationships and interactions, supportive environments, and opportunities to play and learn are fundamental for healthy development.

Brains are built from the bottom up – it is easiest and most effective to get this right the first time.

Ongoing stress in young children can derail healthy development. “Serve and return” interactions between children and caregivers are

essential building blocks for brain development. Children cannot reach their potential on their own; they need the support

of family, community and society as a whole.

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Parent Café: The Early Years

resource

WHY the early years?

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Over the past five years the Early Childhood Development Mapping Initiative collected and analyzed information about the development of kindergarten-aged children in Alberta. Using a population-based tool, the Early Development Instrument, the developmental progress of children was measured in the developmental areas of: (1) physical health and well-being; (2) social competence; (3) emotional maturity; (4) language and thinking skills; (5) communication skills and general knowledge.

This ‘developmental check-up’ told us that less than half of Alberta’s children were developing appropriately in all five areas and that 28.9% of children were experiencing great difficulty in at least one area. The good news is that our community is responding! Across our province individuals, associations and institutions are coming together in new ways to make a difference in the lives of young children.

The Norlien Foundation’s Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI) engaged the FrameWorks Institute to understand how Albertans think about early childhood development and brain development and then how best to share accurate information. In their report Framing a ‘Core Story’ of Brain Development they note “The public still has foggy, often misguided, notions of how the brain develops; what, if anything, can be done to promote healthy development; and who is responsible for doing it.” This misguided thinking impacts not only our actions and behavior, but our ability

to think about solutions.

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How are children in Alberta doing?

How is our community already responding?

12 early childhood city coalitions established through Alberta’s Early Childhood Development Mapping Project are working at the community level to build awareness and support children.

The First 2000 Days Network is working to bridge the gap between systems, agencies and community groups that care about our children.

Organizations such as our post-secondary institutions, Alberta Family Wellness, the Norlien Foundation, Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research and Harvard Centre for the Developing Child are working to share and disseminate emerging research on the developing brain and associated best practice.

Café is doing our part in the collaboration efforts with Calgary and area coalitions and the First 2000 Days Network to contribute to the collective capacity building efforts of dedicated individuals and groups with a shared interest in supporting children. Part of this work has been to collaborate with community organizations to adapt Café’s Parent Café conversations for parents and caregivers to support young children.

What do Albertans know

about ECD?

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The Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research study What Albertans know about early childhood development: The 2013 Benchmark Study also identified key gaps in Albertans’ understanding about how children develop, particularly in the realms of social and emotional development. To create better outcomes for children we may need to build public understanding and support.

What if there was better understanding and sharing of knowledge around resources, opportunities and supports for children and their families? Could learning and sharing together “spark the fire” to take new steps to: find out more, access and engage new resources and supports and develop new skills; to make the most of this amazing developmental opportunity?

Now that’s a great reason for a conversation!

Community conversations are being used around the world to address complex challenges, to problem solve, to pull people together, to stimulate change and action, to share information and resources and to find innovative solutions.

Current learning theories reflect the importance of providing an opportunity for exploration, dialogue and interaction in order for meaningful learning to

take place. The conversation café approach is designed to create an environment for this to happen, or to stimulate conversation within existing programs or places where people who care come together.

How can conversations support individual and community capacity building and change?

When people come together in trusting conversation about something they care deeply about, they can be validated and inspired to learn and act.

Given an opportunity to connect and build supportive relationships can help build capacity and empower change.

Providing a forum for sharing information, stories of success and locally relevant resources supports the building of awareness and foundational knowledge that can inform action.

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WHY conversations?

Dialogue comes from the Greek words “dia” and “logos”

(through, meaning); the flow of meaning between people,

meaning comes from experience and learning and shapes our

thinking and beliefs.

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Parents and caregivers are a child’s first teacher. While the responsibility for supporting early childhood development certainly does not rest solely upon parents and caregivers they are key contributors. The impact of their attachment and relationships and day-to-day interactions are critical to children. What these important adults know and understand will influence what they expect and then how they interact with children.

The 2013 Benchmark Study notes that “improved child outcomes may begin with parents’ knowledge of child development” and that “parents and other adults who interact with children are well positioned to influence the physical, cognitive, social and emotional development of children”. Bringing parents and caregivers together in conversation can serve to:

• Share information to build awareness and knowledge about ECD

• Reaffirm key role of parents and caregivers, while acknowledging the contributions of other individuals, community resources, societal institutions and policies

• Validate what they are already doing and share stories of success

• Identify the often-untapped strengths and assets

• Highlight quality information and resources• Create and opportunity to interact and connect to build social

capital

While the resource was developed with parents and caregivers in mind, remember that families exist within the wider context of community and broader society. The conversation resource can be easily adapted for any group wishing to come together to learn and explore how they might best support children and the future of our society. We all have a role to play, not only in our homes, but at work, in the community and beyond!

The Harvard Center on the Developing Child’s Theory of change directs efforts to improving child outcomes to the building of the capacity of adults who are important in the lives of young children. Better awareness and understanding of ECD is a step, aligning with the work of FrameWorks, AFWI and the Benchmark conclusions.

Parent Café has also incorporated key elements of asset-based community development, appreciative inquiry, community conversations and has

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WHY parents and caregivers?

Aligning with current research

“We underestimate our power as parents, at our

children’s peril.”-

-Dr. Charles Raison, March 2012

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taken into consideration the Government of Alberta’s Workplace Essential Skills and Literacy Framework, with the hope that purposeful conversation will not only inform but light the spark to inspire further development of skills and next steps. (see resources and further reading).

WHAT is Parent Café?Parent Café is a conversation resource for hosting parents and caregivers in purposeful conversation designed to build awareness and capacity in support of early childhood development. The strength-based conversation café format can generate discussion, and allow sharing of knowledge, experience and resources. The Parent Café resource can be used to create opportunities for participants to:

• reaffirm the key role of parents and caregivers, within the broader community, in supporting child development.

• build awareness and understanding of ‘the core story of brain development’ and early childhood development.

• foster relationships, connections and mutual support by bringing people together in dialogue.

• validate the current knowledge and capacity of parents and caregivers.• highlight and share available resources and supports.• learn together and inspire further action

The café conversations focus on highlighting what is now known about early years development and what this means for supporting children and contributing to positive development. Parent Café is NOT A PROGRAM, but an adaptable resource that can be used to bring people together in dedicated café-style events or integrated within existing programs or events.

Beginning within the context of a neighbourhood literacy project in partnership with Calgary Reads in 2008, Café developed our first Parent Café resource as a means of bringing together family, schools and community together in support of literacy. With this first literacy café showing us the potential of the Café format, a number of additional conversations were developed for parents of K- 3 students around topics known to impact learning and development (see below). These conversations were piloted within 6 schools and community-based organizations in 2010-12.

The strengths and assets of many parent leaders, teachers and community-educators contributed to the consolidation of materials and refinement of the

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A Conversation Resource…

The Parent Café Story

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resource. The café conversation guide and accompanying resources became Parent Café: the School Years resource, a true community effort!

Parent Café for School-Years themes:

This Parent Café pilot initiative showed that the act of participating in purposeful conversations not only raised awareness around supporting learning and development but often generated small but significant changes in behaviors and capacity building steps. Some of the things parents reported they were doing differently after their Parent Café sessions were:

• spending more quality time with my child• reading every night• making an appointment to speak with the principal• playing in the kitchen measuring and cooking• signing up to volunteer with Calgary Reads

A key learning was the inherent knowledge, leadership and capacity existing within the schools and community-based programs to not only support children, but to host these conversations independently. To scale up the potential reach of the Parent Café resource it was designed to be widely accessible, open-sourced and easy-to-follow.

These conversations are currently being refined and are available to community, parent or school leaders wishing to further learning support for school age-

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children. For orientations and more information on Parent Café: the School Years please visit us at: http://www.cafeinstitute.org.previewdns.com/cafe-for-parents/assets-in-action/lead-parent-cafe-conversations/

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This Parent Café school years initiative informed and led to the development of Parent Café: the Early Years resource. Emerging research around the developing brain, identified gaps in shared understanding of how children develop, and the recognition of the importance of capacity building had led Café to identify an opportunity for a café approach to explore this developmental window of opportunity. With the growing synergy among ECMap coalitions, partner groups and the newly emerging First 2000 Days Early Childhood Development Network, a collaborative effort began. Exploring what the conversation could include quickly led to development, pilot and sharing of Parent Café: the Early Years resource. While working to support the Bowness Montgomery ECMap coalition building, Café had the opportunity to partner with Ready4Learning and examine how parents and caregivers are supported and ask what else could be done? Bringing together parents, grandmothers, parents, teachers and professionals working to support families on the ground, we explored the question: ‘what do parents and caregivers need to know?’ The initial series of questions was re-organized to follow the progression of themes presented in the video How Brains Are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development, from the Norlien Foundation AFWI initiative. Working together with First 2000 Days partners and the coalitions conversation questions and supporting resources then began to be used to inform coalition building and to raise awareness around the newly established city and area early childhood development network.

While the name Parent Café may suggest that the resource is only relevant for parents and caregivers, our experience to-date is that the conversations are relevant in the broader context. Members of these groups across the province have also participated in conversations and been orientated to the resource:

• Early care providers• Post-secondary students• Health care providers• Early learning educators• Community agencies• Community members• Lifelong learners• Teachers and community educators• Faith-based agencies• Community coalitions • Caring parents, grandparents and citizens

These experiences have reaffirmed the value of including everyone in these conversations about this incredible stage of development and how best to support children. The core story reminds us that we as a society all play a role in ensuring that all children reach their developmental potential, in our homes, workplaces and our communities.

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Parent Café: The Early Years offers a series of conversation starters for sparking dialogue among parents and caregivers. Key messages, accompanying resources and supporting information to share with participants are provided. The conversation starters are organized according to these key themes articulated in the Alberta Family Wellness’s How Brains are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development:

In partnership with Calgary Reads and a number of coalition partners a fifth theme was then developed: Supporting Early Literacy. This conversation theme recognizes the critical role that early literacy plays in supporting brain development. For more information on the themes and the Alberta Family Wellness video visit:http://www.albertafamilywellness.org/resources/video/how-brains-are-built-core-story-brain-developmenthttp://www.cafeinstitute.org.previewdns.com/cafe-for-parents/assets-in-action/parent-cafe-the-early-years/

For more information on early literacy please visit Calgary Reads: http://www.calgaryreads.com

The café questions are designed to spark conversation and:• address the motivation for the topic.• maintain a strength-based orientation.• appeal to personal experience. • offer an opportunity to take away something that may be helpful.

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Parent Café:The Early

Years

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Some sample questions…

Parent Café’s Early Years Pilot

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Having been engaged in the development of the conversation themes, Ready4Learning (Bowness Montgomery coalition) took on the Parent Café pilot with passion. A series of four weekly conversations were hosted at a local daycare, drawing from the centre, local programs and the public. A family dinner with childcare was provided allowing the parents time to converse freely and connect.

The sessions were well-attended and parents requested additional conversations. Sessions began with a review of the Core story video. A great deal of experience and local knowledge was shared along with a selection of quality resources. The response was overwhelmingly positive from both the hosts and the participants. This experience informed the further refinement of the resource, and the initiative continues to grow and expand in the community.

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Participants of the Ready4Learning pilot reported increased awareness around a number of issues. For example:

• 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

Participants also shared things they had done differently as a result of participating in the conversations. For example:

• 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

The conversation starters offer an opportunity to bring participants together around a shared interest – our children. Community leaders and educators can use the cafe approach to create opportunities for and an environment conducive to:• Sharing experiences, local knowledge and resources.• Highlighting and building on the successes of parents in

supporting healthy development.• Helping parents and caregivers create networks and

relationships to increase the social capital that is known to positively impact development.

• Validating parent’s role as their child’s first teacher to support the confidence and capacity needed to be proactive in their role to support learning and development.

Capitalizing on all of the strengths of the potential contributors to a child’s development; parents, extended family, early learning and care providers,

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Supporting Meaningful

Conversations

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agencies and institutions and the broader community can be a challenge, but one with a great deal of potential upside. All people and organizations bring their own unique combination of expertise, resources, valuable perspectives, relationships, and human and financial resources that as a society we cannot afford to leave untapped. Parent Café offers a forum to build those important relationships and connections that expand social and support systems.

Parents Taking Action: It all begins with a conversation.

A conversation café format offers a space to learn and share together in an informal, caring environment. We know that caring about something is the first step leading to action. All Parent Café conversations begin with a question around caring.

The conversation café questions are designed to guide parents toward building awareness and taking further steps to integrate what they have experienced by attending the Café. They may do this in their own interactions with their child and/or by joining with others in collective community efforts.

Through conversation, individual and collective action can be sparked

• when parents build on everyday opportunities and their own experiences. • when personal and locally available assets and resources are highlighted.

Providing participants with a “take away” resource is also helpful. when parents and caregivers leave with a goal or action step in mind.

Conversation and stories from others can spark parents to try news things and explore new ways.

when parents that attend have children of different ages it can be helpful to relate their learning of the day to the stage of learning and situation of their other children.

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A format that highlights…

Each family and community’s unique combination of available strengths and assets

The lived experience and knowledge parents have to share and build on.

Collective wisdom

Opportunities to build capacity by taking some next steps and trying new things

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through conversation, parents may decide to join forces and collaborate on some type of shared goal or idea for action. For example, a group of parents that came together in conversation for the first time ended up sharing child-care responsibilities.

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An Asset-based Orientation

It can be a challenge to maintain a focus on possibilities rather than problems when parents are feeling overwhelmed. The appreciative inquiry-oriented questions will help guide a ‘cup-half full’ space where voices and challenges can be acknowledged but the focus shifts to building on current success and the potential opportunities ahead.

This ‘culture’ of a strength-based orientation begins with the underlying perspective that we have the capacities and resources to draw on. Drawing on our own strengths and those around us is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to building capacity.

Highlighting and accessing information and resources is an important step toward building capacity. Having the awareness and confidence to then access these supports is also key. An asset-based community development approach informs our learning and pathway to draw on strengths and build capacity.

For more on appreciative inquiry and asset-based community development see Resources: Community and Conversation: Further Reading.

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ALL parents bring pieces to the puzzle:

StoriesIndividuals capacities, talents, gifts(gifts of the hands, head and heart)

Links with groups, associations and social networksLinks or experience with local institutions

(support, resources, and expertise)Physical assets and resources

Financial assetsCultural knowledge and assets

A Cup-half-full…

An appreciative inquiry approach helps us to maintain a positive focus on strengths and possibilities…

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HOW to host a Café conversation?

A Parent Café host is a parent, caregiver, grandparent, community leader, teacher, early childhood educator, or a community-based educator with an interest in bringing together people to explore what we know about early childhood development and how to best support young children.

Café provides everything needed to help make this process easy: orientation to materials, hosting guides and recommended resources to support the conversation themes and topics. Café recommends that you attend an orientation to this resource prior

to using the materials. Please contact us if you are interested.

Join the conversation!

As a reminder, the conversation starters follow these themes: Building a Healthy Foundation Relationship and Serve and Return Environment and Stress Skills for Life and Learning (Executive Function and

Self- Regulation)

The conversations were organized to align with the themes presented in the AFWI video How Brains are Built: The Core Story

of Brain Development. Each conversation builds on this informative short video that also introduces metaphors developed to inform and support conversation. AFWI has since developed additional videos, each focusing on one aspect of the core story. All resources files are available with live links on the Café website:http://www.cafeinstitute.org.previewdns.com/cafe-for-parents/assets-in-action/parent-cafe-the-early-years/

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Who is a Parent Café host?

How will YOU use this

resource?

Getting Started:

• Attend an orientation to the Parent Café resource• Review the themes and conversations• Review the goals for the resource (p. 11) Does this fit with what you are

hoping to achieve?• Determine who you would like to bring together in conversation.• Consider the best format for your group (see below) i.e. Would you like to

host separate café(s) or integrate conversation within existing programs or events?

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The Early Years themes and the conversation starters offer a flexible and adaptable resource. A number of potential applications and formats are shared and suggested, however, the resource can be used in any setting that may work for your group(s). Keep in mind that the smaller the group size the more opportunity there is for all to actively participate in the conversation. Bringing in another host can help keep numbers low.

One-on-one conversations as part of home visits or mentoring programs, or as an awareness building

‘station’ within a larger event. For example, use the ‘comfy couch’ idea where questions can be explored one at a time, in one-on-one dialogue.

Small single group format where a small conversation group of participants comes together for one or a series of topics and conversations.

Larger group formats, where multiple questions or themes can be addressed in one session. Using a ‘World Café” format parents and/or caregivers can move among tables and have the opportunity to explore themes or questions of particular interest.

Parent Café for Smaller Conversation Groups

• In this smaller group format, parents are invited to come together for conversation. Sharing food and refreshments helps to set the tone, some groups choose to include a meal with the event. Food is a wonderful way to create community – a key goal for Parent Café.

It is recommended, in hosting a series of conversations, that the first conversation begins with the Building a Strong Foundation theme, introduced by the Alberta Family Wellness video.

The number and frequency of sessions is flexible and depends on the group and the availability of the host. Input from parents regarding availability may be helpful when scheduling the cafés to ensure greatest participation.

Feedback from parents/caregivers re: availability and interest can be gained through 1:1 conversations, phone calls, surveys, or sign up sheets.

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Potential Formats for Hosting

Conversations

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Personal invitations from the host are often the most effective way to engage participation and check in on scheduling.

Parent Café for Larger Groups

• Parent Café can be offered within a larger group format such as an evening in a daycare, school or community hall with multiple tables where conversations could be facilitated by different hosts concurrently, or centrally with one host. If a central host format is chosen, it is recommended that this person has a strong background in the information and with facilitating groups.

• Each table may address one of the five themes, however it is recommended that all tables begin with the first Building a Strong Foundation theme. Imagine a World Café set up if you have had that experience, where parents move among table topics after each conversation(s) or set time period. As these will be shorter sessions, they are designed primarily to spark an interest in learning and further conversations, and share a few key resources. There may only be time for 1-2 questions from each theme. If more in-depth conversation is desired, you may decide to have parents delve into only one theme but in more detail.

• A cafe format provides an opportunity to generate and share a great many ideas and much information in a short period of time. If there is a community-wide issue around the early years arises where parents wish to mobilize and take action, the conversation café format can help to get stakeholders engaged and generate input and ideas.

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In one series the Ready4Learning team chose to adopt a larger group format where:

three sessions were planned (a fourth was added at the request of parents). conversations were held at a local daycare starting with a family dinner with child-care

provided during the cafe. 18 parents and several agency representatives participated in the conversations at 4

tables. conversation and information was shared in a large group format with one host/facilitator

and parents had the chance to converse in smaller groups during meal. the core story was presented through video, with the conversation starters then used as

a basis for discussion incorporating questions from: The Early Years - Building a Strong Foundation.

Deciding on a format for your conversations:

Will it be a separate event or integrated within an existing program?

Do we begin with one café or offer a series to start?

How can the set up support an open and creative environment?

What is the best space and table format?

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Setting the Stage for Conversations

Providing Childcare

Providing childcare can often make the difference in whether parents are able to attend. This may not be an issue when using Parent Café materials within a registered program as childcare may already be taken care of.

Some groups have also opted not to provide childcare and have invited children along, although depending on the size of the group this can be distracting. Each community and group of parents is different and there may be different potential solutions. Regardless, it is noted that attention to this issue in planning a Café can make a great difference for some families.

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A tip for making it all happen

Think of the assets in your networks and community. Consider approaching a local

business for support. A local daycare or dayhome may be able to provide space. Consider

partnering with an agency or community-based organization for childcare or support. One Parent

Café series was supported with a donation of coffee and donuts by the local Tim Horton’s. If

there is a will there is a way!

Are You Ready for Conversation?

How will you create a comfortable physical environment that supports conversation?For example: Offer food and/or refreshments, tablecloths, flowers, arranging furniture…

How will you welcome and facilitate introductions?For example: Clarify: Why are we here? What can we expect to take away?

How will you invite participation?For example: Be ready to share format, create a menu and share some rules and tips for great conversation …What will you leave with parents?For example: Review the suggested resources for possible “take home” resources for parents…

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Begin by introducing the Parent Café approach

• Be clear on the format/event chosen • Use all avenues available to spread the word• Consider beginning with a short ‘introductory session’ to

get parents engaged• Find champions (individuals and organizations) to help

engage others

Invitations

• Determine best time for parents

• Provide food and childcare if possible

• Personal invites are most effective; make connections whenever possible

• Parent Café has provided sample bookmark invites that can be used as is or personalized for your group.

• Encourage participants to bring a friend!

Emphasize the Benefits for them and their Child!

• Learn together about their child’s early development and how to support it. • Connect with other parents for support and dialogue.• Share knowledge and experience with other parents. • Highlight and share available resources and supports.

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Making it happen

1. Get to know the conversation materials2. Create a list of invitees. 3. Determine timing and location of event.4. Decide upon an invitation format. How will the

invitation be distributed?5. Assess assets: What do we have to work with?

What else is needed?6. Enlist support and resources as needed7. Begin promoting

Promoting Your Café –Getting

Parents on Board

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The Parent Café format is designed to make the host’s job easy, by providing an easy-to follow set of question cards along with key ideas and recommended resources. The conversation starters are presented in a suggested order that builds on previous questions. However, we know that true conversation does not follow a script. The most important outcome is that parents are engaged in real conversation rather than simply getting through a list of

questions.

It is suggested that the host let the conversation to flow, and use the conversation starters and accompanying discussion points to spark ideas and topics, and to provide additional information and validation to enhance the conversation when appropriate.

The resource is formatted with a conversation starter question at the top of each page of the conversation guide or on the front of each conversation card. On the bottom of the page or the back of each card are some key hosting notes that correspond to each question for quick reference. It is likely that participants will bring up many of these key discussion points among themselves throughout the conversations.

Along with the conversation starters are additional resource suggestions for each topic question:

• background readings or information for the host marked NOTES• as well as possible handouts for parents marked FOR PARENTS • facilitation tips or activities to do with parents to support the

conversation are marked at SUGGESTIONS

The questions are designed to encourage participants to share their own ideas, activities and experiences. Dialogue often leads to action and it is the hope that conversation inspires parents to try something new in supporting their child, i.e. to access information, engage a resource, to talk to other parents or teachers about their child.

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The Parent Café Hosting Notes are available for each theme and provide further background information corresponding to each question. Hosts may wish to deepen their knowledge or awareness around some of the topics, or explore some suggestions for how to facilitate that particular question. Outlined resources can be used as recommended reading or as takeaways for parents.

Using the Parent Café Cards

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Sample Parent Café Format: Question and accompanying hosting notes

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Tips for a Great Conversation

• Give the room a comfortable feel; consider how you arrange furniture, tablecloths, flowers…

• Offer refreshments.• Create an open and safe environment where all participants

feel comfortable to speak with heart and mind. • Begin every conversation topic with a question around caring.

i.e. What are your hopes and dreams for your child? • Encourage all participants to be heard and understood. • Encourage sharing of stories, knowledge, experience and skills. • Slow down and allow time for reflection; listen for deeper insights and

questions• Draw out and provide encouragement for the things that are working and the

knowledge and experience the group brings. How can we build on this? How might we strengthen our ability to make a difference?

• Use opportunities for hands-on learning if appropriate.• Bring in examples and stories whenever possible• Be flexible – honor the flow of the conversation and adapt to the group.• Follow up by making

connections or providing resources whenever possible.

More on hosting conversations: see Resources and References for Café’s Power of Conversation and Further Readings.

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What kinds of questions are good conversation starters?

Open-ended:Why are the early years so important?

Relating to a parents’ own experience and that of their child:What are you hopes and dreams for your child?How do you play with your child?

Positive orientation: focus on possibilities:What do you enjoy most about parenting? What are your strengths?

Helpful Hosting Techniques

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It is recommended that Parent Café hosts check in with parents or caregivers during the series (monitoring and feedback) and at the end of the series if applicable (evaluation) to see what participants are getting out of the sessions.

Ongoing monitoring can be as simple as asking a few key questions. Finding out what impact the conversation has had for the parents can be determined by asking “what have you done differently since the last session?” at the beginning of each session and “what have you learned from our

conversation today?” or “would you like to set a goal or try something different” at the end of each session. Answers to these questions can help to harvest the impacts of the conversations. You may wish to have someone record key comments, ideas and questions during the conversation.

To support Café's efforts to update and improve these resources and follow the possible impact of Parent Café Early Years conversations we ask for your feedback. Please use our online SurveyMonkey questionnaires or share with us using the evaluation forms below. (available at: http://www.cafeinstitute.org/cafe-for-parents/assets-in-action/the-early-years-opportunity/) Your input is valuable to us!

Early Years Parent Café Participant Reflections and Evaluation

• Parent Café: The Early Years Participant Reflections and Evaluation Form

• Parent Café: The Early Years Participant Reflections and Evaluation SurveyMonkey Link

Early Years Parent Café Host Reflections and Evaluation

• Parent Café: The Early Years Host Reflections and Evaluation Form• Parent Café: The Early

Years Host Reflections and Evaluation SurveyMonkey Link

Depending on the context of the Parent Café, consider who should be receiving the feedback about the sessions. Are there other groups and organizations in your community that could benefit from hearing about the Café’s?

As a community initiative, Café, the First 2000 Days Network, program coordinators, funders, future hosts and

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Remember, success really does build on success!

For more information on the Parent Café: The Early Years conversation resource development and the pilot program through Ready 4 Learning please visit our overview presentation at: http://www.cafeinstitute.org.previewdns.com/cafe-for-parents/assets-in-action/the-early-years-opportunity/.

What are we learning?

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participants will all benefit from your group’s experience. Thank-you in advance for contributing to this evolving resource!

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Café thanks our collaborative partners at  First 2000 Days Early Childhood Development Network, Ready 4 Learning and Calgary Reads who have provided resources, expertise and inspiration for exploring together the incredible opportunity of the early years.

Emerging research on the developing brain from Harvard University, Norlien Foundation, and Alberta Centre for Wellness Initiative along has largely informed this work. We look forward to hearing of your experiences using and adapting this resource. Watch for upcoming conversation themes focusing further on the social and emotional domains of development along with physical health and wellness and the importance of play.

More on Community Assets for Education (Café Institute)

Café is a not-for profit, volunteer-driven community of educators excited about the potential when families, schools and the broader community truly come together in support of learning. The Cafe Institute is guided by a vision of “highly engaged communities working together to support learning”. Café’s asset-based orientation; a belief that ‘the cup is half full’ is fundamental to an approach that focuses on strengths and possibilities, highlighting unlimited opportunities to support learning.

If you are a parent leader, teacher, administrator, or community educator, we hope you will find Café's consolidated stories, research and experience helpful in your work to build strong learning communities. We encourage you to share your own experience, stories and resources for engaging community assets for education by contacting us and become a part of the Café community.

http://www.cafeinstitute.org

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Hosting guideResources and References

Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community ResearchWhat Albertans Know About Child Development: The 2013 Benchmark Study

Alberta Family Wellness Initiative• How Brains are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development • Framing a “Core Story” of Brain Development

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• Conversation Capacity and Focusing on Strengths • Evaluation Forms • The Early Years Opportunity • The Power of Conversation

Calgary Reads

Centre on the Developing Child at Harvard University• Theory of Change

First 2000 Days Network Government of Canada – Employment and Social Development Canada

Literacy and Essential Skills

Literacy Alberta Essential Skills Resource Guide

Norlien Foundation

Ready4Learning

Community and ConversationCafé Institute 30

Further ReadingsAppreciative inquiry and community conversation

Encyclopedia of Positive Questions – Using appreciative enquiry to bring out the best in your organization (Whitney, Cooperrider, Trosten-Bloom and Kaplin (2002))

Appreciative inquiry handbook. (Cooperider, D., Whitney, D., & Stavros, J. (2003). Bedford Heights, OH: Lakeshore Publishers.)

Appreciative inquiry in organizational life. Appreciative management and leadership. (Cooperider, D., & Srivastva, S. (1999). Euclid, OH: Lakeshore Communications.)

Community Conversations: Mobilizing the Ideas, Skills, and Passion of Community Organizations, Governments, Businesses, and People, (Born, P. (2008) PBS Books, Toronto, Canada. Learning Centre: http://tamarackcommunity.ca/g3.php)

The World Cafe Book: Shaping Our Futures Through Conversations that Matter, (Brown, J. and Isaacs, D. Berret-Koehler Publishing)

Community Capacity – Strengths and Assets

When People Care Enough to Act: ABCD in Action, (Green, M., (2006), Inclusion Press, Toronto, Canada).

Building communities from the inside out: A path toward finding and mobilizing a community’s assets. (Kretzmann, J., & McKnight, J. (1993). Chicago, IL: The Asset-Based Community Development Institute, ACTA Publications).

The abundant community, (McKnight, J., Block, P.,(2010). Berrett: Loehler Publishers Inc., San Francisco, CA).

From clients to citizens: Communities changing the course of their own development, (Mathie, A., & Cunningham, G. (2008). Intermediate Technology Publications, UK).

The Abundant Community, Awakening the power of families and neighborhoods, (McKnight, J., Born, P. T, (2010), Berret-Koehler Publishing).

Walk out Walk on, A Learning Journey into communities daring to live the future now, (Wheatley, M. Freize D. (2012).

Raising the Village, (Smyth, T. Dewar, T., (2009) BPS Publishing, Toronto and New York).

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