Social Entrepreneur, Speech and Language Therapist, adjunct lecturer and author, Warda Farah, explores how educators and parents can develop and promote advocacy skills

5 min read

As parents, educators and early years professionals, we all want what is best for the children in our care. But with so much information and advice out there, it can be difficult to know what guidance to follow — especially if it contradicts other information or professional advice. Developing your skills of advocacy – asking questions, challenging opinions and understanding how things will impact children – will help you make informed decisions about the direction taken for learning and development. In this blog post I am going to explain why developing advocacy skills is an important skill, discuss strategies on how to do it effectively and explore some examples of when challenge might be beneficial!

What is advocacy and why is it important for parents and educators?

Advocacy is a powerful tool that allows parents and educators to voice their concerns and seek support for themselves or their children. It is more than just speaking up; it involves creating meaningful change through action and community involvement. Advocacy can be critical in ensuring that the educational needs of children are met and that their rights are protected. It also empowers parents and educators by giving them a platform to express their opinions and values, and to shape the decisions that affect their lives. Without advocacy, valuable resources, services, and policies may be overlooked or denied, resulting in a disservice to both individuals and communities. In today’s society, where access to information and resources can be limited, it is important for parents and educators to harness the power of advocacy to create positive and lasting change.

Understanding the power dynamics between professionals and stakeholders

In any professional setting, it’s important to understand the power dynamics between yourself and the stakeholders you serve. As a professional, you may hold a level of expertise that others may not. This puts you in a position of power and influence over the decisions that are made. However, with this power comes a responsibility to listen and empathise with the stakeholders’ needs and opinions. It’s important to maintain transparency and communicate openly to build trust and ensure that all parties are on the same page. By understanding and navigating these power dynamics with critical reflection and empathy, professionals can foster better relationships with families/stakeholders and ultimately lead to more successful outcomes.

Recognising when to question professional advice

Seeking professional advice can be crucial when making important decisions. However, blindly following that advice may not always be the best approach. It is essential to recognise when to question professional advice and determine whether it aligns with your values, needs, and goals. Being critical of professional advice does not mean disregarding it but rather critically reviewing it and considering alternative perspectives. Empathy plays a crucial role in recognising when to question professional advice, as it requires listening to your instincts and evaluating the advice through your unique lens. Ultimately, being informed, critical, and empathetic in evaluating professional advice can lead to better decision-making and ultimately better outcomes.

Strategies for developing your confidence to challenge ideas, decisions and opinions

Self-confidence is a vital component of personal growth and development. It empowers people to express themselves confidently, making them more effective in challenging ideas, decisions, and opinions. However, developing self-confidence is a struggle for many. Fortunately, there are strategies that can help you overcome this challenge. One of the most effective ways to build your confidence is to embrace failure as an opportunity to learn. Understand that failing at something does not define you as a person; it is merely a temporary setback. Focus on the lessons you can draw from the experience and commit to using them to propel yourself forward. Another strategy is to push beyond your comfort zone. Doing something you have never done before can help you realise that you are capable of accomplishing more than you thought possible. Lastly, surround yourself with people who uplift and support you. Cut out negative, critical voices that undermine your efforts and replace them with people who will encourage you to be your best self. By doing these things, you can develop the self-confidence you need to challenge ideas, decisions, and opinions.

Developing a secure base to support your advocacy

When advocating for a cause, developing a secure base to support your efforts is crucial. It’s important to surround yourself with people who believe in your cause and are willing to help you achieve it. However, building this base can be challenging. It requires trust, vulnerability, and persistence. You’ll need to constantly communicate your goals and progress, while also listening to feedback and adapting your approach as needed. But with a strong support system, you’ll be empowered to make significant contributions to your cause. Remember, advocating for change can be a long and difficult journey, but having a secure base of believers will make all the difference in achieving success.

Learning from mistakes and successes of advocacy campaigns

Advocacy campaigns can be a powerful tool for affecting social and political change. From civil rights to environmental protection, the success of these campaigns largely rests on the ability of advocates to learn from both their mistakes and successes. To do this effectively, advocates must critically examine the strategies and tactics they employed and be willing to learn from any missteps. It’s also important for advocates to cultivate empathy and understanding, both for those they seek to influence and for their own team members. By learning from previous campaigns, advocates can create more effective campaigns in the future, drawing on their successes and avoiding the pitfalls of past failures.

Being a successful advocate requires both practice and education. Every effort towards effective advocacy results in a better conversation between professionals and stakeholders. As parents, educators and guardians, it is so important to develop our advocacy skills to question the decisions made around our loved ones. We need to recognise the power dynamics at hand, assess the risks involved and take action with the best intention for everyone involved. The strategies outlined here should help those new to advocacy to have the confidence required to challenge ideas, decisions and opinions from a secure base of knowledge. With each success or mistake along the way comes an invaluable lesson; whatever choice we make today will shape our approach for tomorrow. Let us continue to champion fairness, equity, inclusion and justice by utilising our strongest resource: ourselves as powerful advocates.