TEACHING TIPS
The role of an educator is to prepare parents to meet and care for their newborn , providing information and tools to give them the best chance for a positive , low-stress experience . As a primary and trusted source , it is helpful to approach teaching with these tips in mind .
STAY IN YOUR SCOPE
You provide parents with a wide range of information . Sometimes , the line between teaching ( giving information ) and providing care ( giving medical advice ) may become blurred . Even if you also work as a medical professional in a different setting , while you are teaching , it is outside your scope of practice to give medical advice . Always be sure to teach and not advise .
TELL STORIES
YOUR ROLE
Illustrations and examples often ring true with people ’ s own life experiences and may make
Preview
a more significant and memorable impact than simply presenting factual information . Briefly give examples of situations you have heard about or experienced . Always respect and protect people ’ s privacy , leave out client names or other identifying information and be sure to get permission before sharing details about anyone ’ s experience .
STAY OBJECTIVE
It is easy to become caught up in the lives and journeys of your clients . At times , you may be concerned about the choices clients make , especially if a choice does not seem best to you , or seems to be in conflict with information that you presented . Bear in mind that parents hold responsibility in the end . You cannot , nor should you , choose for them , nor is it healthy to take any of their decisions personally .
KNOW WHERE TO FIND RESOURCES
You do not need to have all of the answers at your fingertips in order to be an excellent educator . It is inevitable that new situations and circumstances will arise that you may not have experienced in the past . When you encounter new scenarios , it is okay to simply tell parents that you don ’ t know , but be prepared to offer direction with local or online resources . Direct parents to information that is unbiased , up to date , reputable and reliable . Consider making a list to have ready , or create a page on your website with links . This may evolve over time as you encounter different situations and as new research is conducted and practices change . Appendix D includes information about special circumstances that can help you get started , and you can find many current references and resources at
www . plumtreebaby . com / pages / references .
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