The Early Years Opportunity Building a Strong Foundation 1

Hosting Notes reaffirm the key role of parents and caregivers along with the broader community in supporting child development. share and learn together to strengthen awareness and understanding 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 building and inspire further action. Early Years Parent Café Goal: To build awareness and capacity of parents and caregivers in support of early childhood development. Early Years Parent Café Goal: To build awareness and capacity of parents and caregivers in support of early childhood development.

Education for Communities, Communities for Education Welcome & Introductions Explore: What do you hope to take from the conversations? Explore: What do you hope to take from the conversations? 2

Hosting Notes Suggestion: Something motivated parents to be here – take the time to find out what they would like to get from these conversations. Make a point of letting all parents be heard. Validate parents efforts and commitment to their child by being here. Emphasize the shared interest among the group in their children – talking with other adults offers a great support and chance to share knowledge and experience. Welcome! The fact that you’re here shows you love and care for your child. Suggestion: Ask parents to share something about their child (i.e. something they most recently learned to do) during the introductions. Suggestion: Ask parents to share something about their child (i.e. something they most recently learned to do) during the introductions.

The Early Years Opportunity Building a Strong Foundation Conversation Overview Education for Communities, Communities for Education Why are the early years so important? How can an understanding of development and the early years help you in your role as a parent? Hopes and dreams for your child? What kind of experiences are most important to a child’s development? What are your reactions after learning about early brain development? 3

Hosting Notes Are there particular questions about early years development you would like to discuss? Suggestion: Use a flipchart/blackboard/newsprint on table/ to record these questions and revisit them at the end of the session or in a future conversation. Invite parents to offer questions throughout the conversation. Building a Strong Foundation Suggestion: Introduce parents to how the conversation might flow with a few sample questions from the overview. Suggestion: Introduce parents to how the conversation might flow with a few sample questions from the overview.

Education for Communities, Communities for Education What are your hopes and dreams for your child’s future? …for all of the children in your community? 4 Explore: How are you supporting your child to reach these dreams?

Hosting Notes Hopes and dreams for our children… Examples from parents: to have many opportunities to be happy and well adjusted to love learning Others? Focusing on the possibilities creates energy and excitement for the future… Dreaming helps to focus on the amazing possibilities ahead. When people connect to the heart they find the motivation to act. By setting the stage with this question for a casual and open conversation, parents feel comfortable and supported to speak honestly. Caring leads to action…

Education for Communities, Communities for Education Why are the early years so important? 5 Explore: How are young children in our province are doing? Examine the Early Childhood Mapping Project results.

The early years of a child’s life are so important because… Hosting Notes Examples: Children learn to walk and talk. They build the skills they need to be ready for school. It is the time they learn most, more than any other time in their life! Children learn basic social skills at a young age. Others? A child’s growth and development in the early years lays a foundation for healthy development. The 5 domains of development (as measured in Alberta) by the EDI instrument as part of the EC mapping project are: Physical well-being Social competence Emotional maturity Language and thinking skills Communication and general knowledge Many children are on track with their development, but did you know? Almost 1 in 3 children in Calgary are experiencing difficulty in 1 or more domains of development. The good news is that 11 coalitions are now working to improve early years opportunities across Calgary and area as part of the First 2000 Days Network. “It takes a community to raise a child.”

Education for Communities, Communities for Education The foundation for a healthy brain is built in the early years of a child’s life! Explore together a short video from Alberta Family Wellness Initiative: How Brains are built: The Core Story of Brain Development How Brains are built: The Core Story of Brain Development Explore: What stood out for you? 6

Hosting Notes Key messages on brain development: Brains are born and then built over time based on our experiences! Brains, just like houses, are built from the bottom up. A solid brain foundation supports all future development, a base for a lifetime of good mental function and better overall health. “Serve and return” interactions between caregivers and young children are the “bricks” that build and maintain a healthy brain! Stress can shape brain architecture and development. Some stress is positive, but “toxic”, or prolonged severe stress, without the protection of a loving caregiver can leave a child at risk for a life of health and developmental problems and even addiction. It is far easier and more effective to “get things right the first time”! Sturdy brain architecture supports the development of basic social and emotional skills. Emotional regulation and executive function skills, like an “air-traffic-control system”, are a necessity for positive mental health and need to be geared up as soon as possible! Children can’t do this on their own! They need the support of parents, caregivers and the extended community! The foundation for a healthy brain is built in the early years!

Education for Communities, Communities for Education Explore together: Experiences Build Brain Architecture, Center on the Developing Child or Building Better Brains: Brain Architecture, Alberta Family Wellness Initiative What stands out for you? Did anything different jump out this time? Experiences Build Brain Architecture Building Better Brains: Brain Architecture Suggestion: Think of what a 5-year-old can do and compare this to a newborn’s abilities! Suggestion: Think of what a 5-year-old can do and compare this to a newborn’s abilities! 7

Hosting Notes Our genes provide the blueprint but experiences will shape the process that determines whether a child’s brain will provide a sturdy or a weak foundation for all future learning, behavior and health! We are born with most of our brain cells (neurons) but the connections between the neurons, or synapses, haven’t fully developed at birth. Electrical signals between neurons build synapses. These form pathways (brain circuits) that then connect one area of the brain to another. This forms the foundation for brain architecture. Environment and experiences will determine how circuits and connections are made and then reinforced through repeated use. Circuits and connections that are used more will grow stronger and more permanent and connect faster to other areas of the brain; connections used less fade away through a normal process called pruning. Simple circuits form first providing a foundation for more complex circuits. Circuits and connections for emotions, motor skills, behavioral control, logic, language and memory are built during this early period of development. Skills in one area support skills in another area. Like in building a house, everything is interconnected and what comes first forms a foundation for all that comes later. Early brain development impacts all areas of adult life: Foundational brain circuits and their corresponding skills are built in the first 2000 days! A child’s experiences… have a lasting impact on the architecture of the developing brain:

Education for Communities, Communities for Education How can an understanding of development and the early years help you in your role as a parent? 8 Explore: How do you feel about the opportunity to support this amazing time of learning and development?

Hosting Notes Inspire us to make the most of this opportunity! Development is an active process and doesn’t “just happen”. Supporting our child as they build a strong and healthy brain will have a big impact on their lifelong learning, behavior and health! Inform parents of what to expect: The sequence that skills are learned follows a predictable pattern - foundational skills are built upon with more complex skills (i.e. hold up head before sitting, standing, walking and running!). This applies to physical, thinking, language and social and emotional skills, with each area impacting the other realms. Development doesn’t happen at a steady pace; temporary “set backs” are common. Periods of "disequilibrium” or "out-of-sorts" times are common just before a child enters a new developmental phase or learns something new. Inform choices about safety and appropriate experiences. Build awareness and reduce stress and frustration for parent and child with realistic expectations for behavior and development. Inform parents when to ask for help and look for resources if they have a concern, as developmental milestones give information about the typical timeline that most children will follow in their development. Inspire celebration, wonder and excitement for the everyday miracles of learning, growth and development. An understanding of how children develop can:

Education for Communities, Communities for Education Reflecting on what we have shared today, what are some ways you are supporting your child’s development? Explore: Are there everyday experiences you hadn’t thought of as supporting healthy development? Technology is everywhere. How does technology impact early brain development? Explore: Are there everyday experiences you hadn’t thought of as supporting healthy development? Technology is everywhere. How does technology impact early brain development? 9

Hosting Notes Meeting the physical needs of the child, providing good nutrition, rest and protection from harm. Through their interactions and relationship with their child. i.e. comforting a crying child, spending time together, playing peek-a-boo, answering “why” questions… Providing time and opportunities for exploration, discovery and play. i.e. “tummy time”, building with blocks, make believe play, bath time With opportunities to rehearse and practice newly acquired skills that then build and extend to the next. Brains are built bottom up with skills building one on another. Repetition is important remember it is necessary for strong brain connections! Being aware of how technology impacts how we interact. Providing developmentally appropriate experiences, with developmentally reasonable expectations. Parents supporting healthy development by: Suggestion: Use the example of an infant developing the motor skills to use their hands. How can this be supported?

Education for Communities, Communities for Education From whom and where can you find out more about how children develop? 10 Suggestion: Take the: *What Albertans Know About Development survey.

Hosting Notes People and places to help us find out more about how children develop: Examples of ideas and suggestions: Parent Link Centres First 2000 Days - EC Map Healthy Parents – Healthy Children Family physicians Other parents and family Public Health Centres Others? Many Albertans have limited knowledge about how children develop!

Education for Communities, Communities for Education After our discussion today, what would you like to try that is new to you? Explore: What would you like to share with another parent or caregiver? 11

Hosting Notes Examples: Find my coalition contact for the EC Map project in my area and find out what’s happening in neighborhood..ready4learning.org.ready4learning.org Check out resources at the Parent Link centre. Share some of what I learned with other parents at playgroup. Others? Reminder: Provide any follow up information requested and remind parents of your next conversation. Great ideas from parents: