Teen Parent OutreachHandbook

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Table of Contents

“Love.Talk.Play.” Overview 3

Working with Teen Parents 4

Helpful Hints4

Three-part Learning Series 5

Love 6

Talk 7

Play 8

Sample Handouts

Three-part Series Advertisement 9

Brain Development Through Homemade Crafts 10

Playdough Recipe Ideas 11

Social Media Parenting Resources 12

Parenting Tips from “Love.Talk.Play.”13

Teen Parent Survey 14

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About the “Love.Talk.Play.” CampaignThe “Love. Talk. Play.” campaign aims to surround parents of children birth to age 3 with simple messages about three key things all parents can and need to be doing with their children every day: love, talk and play.

Shaped by information from national early learning experts, conversations with parents and input from the state’s regional early learning coalitions and state partners, the campaign reaches out to parents with these messages and ways they can take advantage of everyday moments.

How to explain this to teen parents:1. Every moment you spend with your child is important, even

the times you think they can’t understand.2. Parenting doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated and

it can actually be fun!3. You’re already doing a great job and “Love.Talk.Play.” is

here to support you.

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Working with young parents Working with teen parents is fun and rewarding, but can also be challenging. When

engaging this specific audience, it’s important to keep in mind that, just like their children, these parents are going through developmental transitions as well. Below are some tips that may be helpful when engaging and working with young parents.

o Helpful Tips: 1. Go to them. Schools and agencies often provide programs for teen parents.

Visiting and offering services to these types of groups not only connects you with your target audience, but allows you to establish the relationship in a place that they already feel comfortable. Some examples of these program include:

a. YoungLivesb. Volunteers of America homes, youth shelters, recovery programsc. Alternative high schools or alternative graduation track programs in public

schools2. Keep sessions and interactions short and simple to maintain attention.3. Communication via Facebook or other social media forms is helpful both to

advertise sessions prior to your visit and to stay connected with the parents afterwards.

4. Select a facilitator that can relate and connect on a personal level with younger parents, perhaps a young adult or someone that has been a teen parent.

5. Continually ask for feedback on what they would like to learn, do, or talk about during sessions. They appreciate having their opinion heard.

6. Building a solid relationship right from the start is essential to earning their trust. Perhaps start with a simple and

relaxed get-to-know-you activity.7. Get active. Many of these parents sit in desks all

day so getting up and moving keeps them engaged, especially if you have some active teen dads in the room!

Three-Part Learning SeriesThe three-part learning series was designed to keep

parents engaged with short and simple sessions that occurred once a month for three consecutive months in order to reinforce the “Love.Talk.Play.” material and develop relationships with the parents through repeated exposure. Each session was lead by a facilitator demonstrating and modeling for the parents followed by encouraged participation and feedback throughout the session.

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The following pages include outlines, ideas and feedback about each session in the three-part series.

Sessions:1. LOVE

Purpose: Introduce & explain the basics of the ‘Love.Talk.Play.’ campaign, learn parents’ names and build relationships, and set a tone of fun and open conversation.

2. TALKPurpose: Explain how to select age appropriate books, emphasize the

importance of reading to your child early, and available early literacy resources3. PLAY

Purpose: Show that parenting does not have to be expensive, ways to reuse household items for learning, and get parents involved in active activities for their child

Frequency: Three sessions with each group Once a month Evening sessions (after dinner) After series: monthly email or Facebook check-in and updates to group

facilitators

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Session #1: Love1) Love Talk Play Intro (4 minutes)

a. Built by parents for parents, you are your child’s first & most important teacher

b. What each word means2) Introductions: parent and child names and one fun fact: how they picked

their child’s name/significance3) Let’s put Love Talk Play into action (20 minutes)

a. Ball activity with ball cardi. Go through card & sing songii. Encourage them to be silly

b. Activity cardi. Go through the cardii. Ask parents for their favorite song and show how that can be

used for learningiii. Start discussion while browsing activity card about how parents

are loving, talking, and playing with children already4) Emphasize that we are there to empower, they know best

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Session #2: TalkAgenda for Love, Talk, Play – Book sharing

1. Introductions – Name and favorite book when they were little (5 minutes)

2. What to look for when picking out books for babies and toddlers (5-10 minutes)

3. Suggestions on how to share a book (5-10 minutes)

4. Storytime - 4-7 books with fingerplays in between (15-20 minutes)

5. Parachute Play (5-10 minutes)

6. Hand out Folders

7. Take home activity – Making a book (This can truly be a take home activity or we can do that as part of the program – I’ll bring crayons just in case)

8. Wrap up and Questions

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Session #3: Play

Prior to the session, collect the following cleaned-out recycled items to use as materials for the learning tools:

Clean plastic or tin containers with lids (Jif peanut butter jars, large applesauce containers, juice bottles, coffee cans, etc.)

Old junk jewelry, beads, or shiny/colorful objects Dry rice, lentils, beans Wrapping paper or paper towel cardboard tubes Clear plastic water/soda bottles with lids

You’ll also need: Glue gun and glue sticks Clear, packing tape Food coloring

A how-to video on creating the crafts can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXCdcsJCcYE

Making at-home learning crafts is a fun experience for both you and your child! However, since we are using some small objects and hot glue, make sure that if your child is younger than 3 years you are the one handling the materials. But that doesn’t mean your littlest one cannot enjoy the activity too! As you are making the toys, talk them through the process. Explain what you are doing as you pour the water or add the rice. Even though they may not respond, they are still learning and developing their language skills as you talk to them. Now if your child is older than 3 and wants to help, let them help with steps that are safe for everyone like pouring water or adding the glitter. Talk older children through the process as well. Much like story telling and reading, linking steps together like these ones, helps them develop their communication skills as well.

Like the use of many toys it’s important to supervise your child when they are exploring with the learning crafts and put them away after you are done playing together.