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Self-Advocacy Toolkit

The Self-Advocacy Toolkit is designed to empower you with the knowledge, strategies, and resources to advocate for yourself and your profession. Inside, you’ll find practical tips for everyday advocacy, guidance on understanding your rights, self-care strategies, and tools for communicating your needs to government.

Developed in collaboration with a team of students from Mount Royal University, and informed by sector research, national resource scans, and insights from practicing early childhood educators (ECEs), this evidence-based toolkit helps frame advocacy as approachable, achievable, and part of daily practice. Whether you’re just starting your advocacy journey or looking to strengthen your voice, this resource will support you in making a positive impact for yourself, your colleagues, and the early learning and child care (ELCC) sector.
 

Foundational knowledge

  • What is self-advocacy?
    • Self-advocacy means speaking up for your own needs, values, and experiences. For ECEs, it can be as simple as everyday conversations about your work or as big as engaging in policy change; both help build recognition and respect for the profession.
  • Why is advocacy important to ECEs?
    • ECEs hold unique knowledge and lived experience that can drive meaningful change in the early learning and child care sector. You advocate for children and families every day; these skills can be used in advocating for yourself as well. By advocating for yourself and your profession, you help strengthen the workforce and shape a system that better supports children, families, and educators.
  • Knowing your rights
    • Understanding your rights is a foundation of self-advocacy. This section helps you recognize protections around workplace safety, fair pay, and inclusion so you can set boundaries, speak up, and ensure you’re treated with respect.

Everyday self-advocacy and self care

  • What is everyday advocacy?
    • Advocacy doesn’t always mean big actions; it can be small, daily choices that show the value of your work. This section shares simple strategies you can use every day to care for yourself and advocate for your profession.
  • The value of you and the work you do
    • ECEs shape children’s lives during their most important years. This section reminds you of your worth, celebrates your impact, and offers tips to share the value of your work.
  • Reframing your role with others
    • The language you use to describe your work matters. This section offers empowering ways to talk about your profession, helping others see ECEs as skilled professionals who build the foundation for lifelong learning.
  • Connections and support
    • You are not alone in your advocacy journey. This section highlights ways to connect with other educators, share experiences, and strengthen your support network.
  • Promoting Balance
    • Balancing work and life is essential. Here you’ll find quick activities and grounding strategies to decompress, recharge, and prevent burnout.
  • Reflections
    • Taking time to reflect helps you grow as a professional. This section provides guided prompts and templates to set goals, celebrate successes, and identify areas for development.
  • Resources
    • Find articles, podcasts, and videos to deepen your learning. This section connects you with practical tools and inspiration to support your self-advocacy and professional journey.

Government communications

  • Why is it important?
    • Clear, respectful communication with the government helps ensure ECE voices are heard. This section explains why engaging with policymakers matters and how it can create positive change for educators, children, and families.
  • Communication Checklist
    • Not sure where to start? Use this simple checklist to plan your message, stay clear and professional, and make your communication with the government impactful.
  • Letter Template
    • Advocacy is easier with the right tools. This section provides a ready-to-use template you can adapt when writing to your MLA or other decision-makers.

Supplementary material

In this section, you will find:

  • Colouring pages
  • Professional reflection templates
  • Sample government letters

Using The Toolkit

This toolkit is designed to be a resource you can return to again and again. Throughout the toolkit, advocacy skills are built first through knowledge, then through application and action. Explore the sections at your own pace, try out the strategies that fit your needs, and use the templates and reflections whenever you’re ready. Revisit any section when you need inspiration, guidance, or a boost of confidence in your advocacy journey, and share it with colleagues to strengthen your collective voice.

 

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