Supporting parents as their children’s first and most important teachers

LoveTalkPlay.org

What We Know There are more than 348,000

children under the age of 3 in Washington state. About 70,000 of those children live in poverty.

Parents say they want information about how to support their child’s healthy growth and learning, but …– Parents are busy and stressed —

and bombarded with conflicting messages about what’s important.

– Parents who need information and support the most often don’t get it.

LoveTalkPlay.org

Campaign Overview “Love. Talk. Play.” is a

simple but powerful message campaign that supports parents as their children’s first and most important teachers.

Campaign Goal: All families — especially families living in vulnerable situations — with children birth to age 3 have the confidence, information and skills needed to give their children a great start in life.

LoveTalkPlay.org

Campaign Overview Led by Thrive by Five Washington, the Dept. of Early

Learning and Office of Supt. of Public Instruction and shared with diverse communities of families statewide through early learning regions and state, local partners.

Grounded in science and created with input from parents, national early learning experts and partners to provide families with examples of how to incorporate love, talk and play into everyday activities, such as diaper changing, making a meal or sharing a book.

Gaining interest within the state and nationally because it’s simple and positive.

LoveTalkPlay.org

Guiding Principles Focus on families with children birth to age 3,

and on vulnerable, loosely connected communities

Support parents as their children’s first and most important teachers

Continuously learn and improve Distribute appealing, durable products Be memorable and positive Allow communities to implement campaign in

the ways that will best work for them Connect what already exists, and use existing

trusted messengers to reach parents, families and caregivers

Prioritize one-on-one and repeat opportunities to connect with families LoveTalkPlay.org

Why Love, Talk and Play?

LoveTalkPlay.org

LOVE

The relationship a child has with his/her parents or primary caregiver sets the stage for all future relationships. Strong bonds make it easier for a child to make friends and do well in school because she feels safe and loved at home.

TALK Talking, singing and rhyming helps build a child’s language skills long before he can talk or understand what’s being said. They are also critical in helping him learn to read.

PLAY Play is the way a child learns. Through play, children develop language, thinking, motor, creative and social skills.

Campaign Timeline2010

Research and build campaign2011

Launch campaign with state’s 10 Early Learning Regions Support EL Regions in engaging vulnerable families Create PSA with Seattle Sounders

2012 Include materials in Dept. of Health’s Child Profile

mailing to all families with a 6-month-old baby Begin formal evaluation of campaign Identify teens as a priority population for the campaign

and create Family Engagement Committee

LoveTalkPlay.org

Campaign Evaluation: Overview

LoveTalkPlay.org

Measures success at each stage of the information dissemination process

Currently only focuses on the impact of the outreach and engagement work being done by the 10 Early Learning Regions

Leverages several tactics, including reports from the Regions, interviews with parents and caregivers and partner surveys

Campaign Evaluation: Notable Themes

LoveTalkPlay.org

While there are diverse approaches to the campaign in each of the 10 Early Learning Regions, campaign messages and materials are well-received.As campaign strategies are honed and enhanced, regions have become more intentional about creating the partnerships they need and focusing more on engaging families in vulnerable situations.

Campaign Evaluation: Results

LoveTalkPlay.org

From January to May 2012: About 160 partnerships formed 109 campaign events held More than 8,000 parents/families

reachedo Approximately 85%

considered in vulnerable situations; 42% not already connected to other early learning programs or services.

o Vulnerable = receiving subsidy and other risk guidelines.

Who is Using the Campaign?

Home Visitors Play and Learn

Groups Teen Parenting

Programs Libraries DSHS, DEL, DOH

WIC Child Profile Media Child Care Centers Children’s Museums Tribal Communities

LoveTalkPlay.org

Lessons Learned Simple and fun works …

and is appreciated! Events are good but

one-on-one contact is better

Need both general and personal outreach

LoveTalkPlay.org

How You Can Get Started1. Connect with your Early Learning

Region. Participate in the local conversation

about how to coordinate and engage harder-to-reach families in your area

2. Think about ways that you could easily connect your existing work to the words love, talk and play when talking with parents/caregivers you know.

3. Visit LoveTalkPlay.org and share the resource with colleagues and peers.

4. Link to LoveTalkPlay.org on your website.

5. Like us on FB and follow us on Twitter

6. Encourage parents/caregivers to sign up for our weekly tips.

LoveTalkPlay.org

Materials

LoveTalkPlay.org

Visit LoveTalkPlay.org/shop to order a limited number of free posters and fold-out activity mailers. Key materials are

available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese and Somali

Further Resources:www.LoveTalkPlay.org

Seattle Sounders to serve as campaign spokespeople!

We’re on Facebook and Twitter, too!

People can also sign up for a weekly e-mail tip.

LoveTalkPlay.org