What Families Want and Need?

Environmental Scan Calgary & Area Families with Young Children

UpStart Family Action Team

Funding provided by

Host Organization

Member of

Why did we do this scan?

• To respond to the Family Action Team Mandate – “to increase the understanding of families about evidence-based early childhood development and practice”

• To add to all that we know about Calgary’s children and their families

• To inform decisions that would move forward the agenda for families with young children

• To provide a baseline against which future outcomes can be measured

Backgrounder detailsThe F. A. T. committee – authors and disseminatorsTwo ways to complete the survey:

• Survey Monkey• Paper and pencil

598 families:• 88 percent urban• 64 percent ages 30-39• 34 percent born outside Canada• 5 percent Aboriginal• 60 percent with postsecondary education• 36 percent low income

Funding – UpStart and FCSSIn-kind support – Can Learn

Interesting (unexpected) discoveries

• Loneliness and isolation prevailed across all demographics• Finding child care for sick kids is difficult regardless of family

income • ‘Play” is not seen as being significant in child development• Parents were surprised by all the issues they face in the post-

natal period• Neighbourhoods seem to be safe but this did not necessarily

translate into having a neighbour to call on for help• There are massive numbers of questions from parents about

behaviour issues

Help and information support during and after pregnancy – the top 5!

• During• Doctors, 79%• Partners, 63%• Books, manuals, websites, 53%• Pre-natal classes, 46%• Other health professionals, 39%

• Post-partum• Doctors, 66%• Friends, 59%• Books, manuals, 59%• Websites, 50%• Extended family 49%

The biggest worries about bringing that baby home

• Only 55% were full of joy• Nearly everyone was surprised about fatigue• For the babies - diapering, colic, breastfeeding, nutrition,

safety, bathing, infant crying• For parents – unexpected illness, managing self-care, other

siblings, isolation, loneliness, no-one to call, partners going back to work, finances

Parents and Play – what parents wanted to know more about

Calgary EDI / ECMapping Results

• Physical health and well-being – 20.4%• Social competence – 21.79%• Emotional maturity – 20.8%• Language and thinking skills – 20.4• Communication skills / general knowledge –30.1%

What would/could have helped?

• Extended family nearby• “Help from anyone!”• Meal preparation, errands, sibling child care, grocery

shopping, getting older kids to their activities were all helpful but…

• Daytime help to take the baby so mum could nap, shower, be herself. ”Someone who took the baby away from me for a few hours so that I was really able to focus on myself…a mental, physical and emotional break

• “A maid, a chef, and a nanny.”

About Relationships…

• Play and warm, consistent relationships are on disconnect with social/emotional and cognitive development

Workplace

• 46% not able to take time off when a child is sick• Only 36% consider their workplace

as family friendly

Parenting in the Information Age

• 84 % would prefer just one place to go and seek information

• 81 % prefer website• Other things were also mentioned: personal

interactions, newsletters, brochures

Recommendations

1. Support for Families

• Calgary is in a great need of family friendly employment

2. Support for expecting and brand new parents

3.Helping parents to support their children’s development and learning

HOW?

4. Supporting the extended family

5. Disseminating information helpful to parents

• What do parents of young children need to know?

• The obvious answer is “many things” but with some caveats…

• In real time and with easy access are the most noticeable caveats

• We are not ready for paperless yet…!

In the days ahead….

For further information…The report is available at:www.2000days.caORnjerkovic@canlearnsociety.ca

ANDYou can duplicate the survey in your own jurisdictions. Imagine the power of having all this data from right across the province!