Parent Talking Circles Parents gather together and use research based Protective Factors to build a strong parenting community
Parent Talking Circles Objectives Gather with Parents/ Caregivers/ Guardians Explore relevant questions Share relevant experiences Connect with meaningful community resources Discover relevant information as it relates to parenting skills and child development
Parent Talking Circles Components Talking Circles Share, Heal and Mediate Problems Gather in Circles An object is passed counter clockwise to identify the speaker One person speaks at a time, until everyone has had an opportunity to speak Ideally, it should be an honest and non-judgmental experience. Café’ Conversation Gather in a hospitable space to Establish ground rules Explore compelling questions Share and connect perspectives and ideas Present collective discoveries
Parent Talking Circles Components Parent Café’ Much like Café’ Conversations, except it is specifically enriches the lives of parents and children Research based Protective Factors are embedded in the process of the dialogue Participants, host, facilitators are specifically Parents, Caregivers and Guardians The process begins with a listening exercise to encourage deep listening Parental Involvement?? Parents, Caregivers, Guardians Discipline
Why Talking Circles Parents connect with other parents on an intuitive level Parents exchange experience in a intimate familiar and welcoming environment It is scalable. It can take place anywhere and anytime It’s practical It can be formal or informal Mobile Flexible Transferable
Roles in a Talking Circle Facilitator / Host Organize snacks, Fidget toys, Talking Stick, Writing utensils, sticky notes Decide the location Set up the Circle Greet guess Create sign in sheet (if desired, but recommended) Introduce the Talking Circle Agreement Introduce Listening Activity Describe the flow of the Conversation Introduce the Protective Factors Identify and connects, ideas and themes Keep the conversation engaged from “I” perspective / Hold the space Collect Evaluations (If desired)
“Parent Café” Protective Factors Research Language Parental Resilience Social Connections Knowledge of parenting and child development Concrete support in times of need Social and emotional competence of children Healthy parent & child relationship
“Parent Café” Protective Factors Everyday Language Be strong and flexible Parents need friends Being a great parent is part natural and part learned We all need help sometimes Parents need to help their children communicate Give your children the love and respect they need
“Parent Café” Talking Circle Agreement We agree to ask meaningful questions. We agree to allow ourselves to explore and listen to meaningful answers. We agree to allow others to independently explore and listen to meaningful answers. We agree to discover important information as the result of this process. We agree to speak from our own experience. Use “I” statements. We agree to listen attentively. Don’t interrupt. We will not give judgements good or bad. Not put downs of yourself or others. We do not give. What we say in Our “Parent Cafe” Talking Circle stays in our circle. Turn your cell phones off or silence them
“Parent Café” Talking Circle Agreement Activity Listenin ing g Activit vity: Who are you? Who is your family? Think of a time you faced something that was truly challenging. What happened? What did you do? Share you “AHA” moment with group: Without telling your partners story-What did you realize from listening to your partners experience? What did you realize when you heard yourself retell your experience?
Sources Be Strong Families http://www.bestrongfamilies.net/ World Cafe Method http://www.theworldcafe.com/key-concepts-resources/world-cafe-method/ Talking Circle http://www.muiniskw.org/pgCulture2c.htm Video of Parent
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