Help! These Conversations Never Go Well!

1. People feel the need to be respected.
2. People would rather be asked than be told.
3. People have a desire to know why.
4. People prefer to have options over threats.
5. People want to have second chances.

These sentiments are woven through a new course, available in Better Kid Care's On Demand System titled, "Talk and Think about Health Policies and Practices." Early care and education (ECE) and out-of-school time (OST) professionals have always been faced with a long list of health policies and practices. With each inspection and accreditation visit, health and safety take a primary position as an area to assess. And in the COVID-19 years, these expectations intensified. The pressure to do things right weighed heavily on caregivers at every level.

Programs have been learning the importance of making sure that parents and staff feel respected, that their perspectives are considered, and that they are given the thinking behind policies, not just having unexplained rules handed down without any conversation.

Instead of just handing down decisions, this working course invites people to think and practice communicating about common ECE and OST health protocols. It provides practical tools like handbook statements, staff meeting practice scenarios, and family fact sheets that programs can personalize to their own situations to improve confidence in and compliance with health protocols. Learners will be empowered to communicate the "why" and implement practices with families in culturally responsive ways. Directors and program administrators may find it particularly helpful. Those who work in a technical assistance role with health and safety policies may find it a helpful reminder about conversation, connection, and cultural responsiveness around health policies. Many programs are onboarding new staff. This course provides ideas of how to do that thoughtfully, weaving conversations and attunement into all areas of the orientation process. Check it out!

Reference

Thompson, G. J., & Jenkins, J. B. (2013). Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion. HarperCollins.