The Toolkit is made up of a number of ‘tools’. Each tool includes:

• an introduction;
• an explanation of the underlying principles of the tool;
• access to on-line examples and stories to illustrate the concept;
• a research question to help facilitated, community-building discussion; and
• opportunity for a time of personal reflection and journaling.

It’s worth noting:

• The Toolkit principles provided can be generally applied to most contexts. (Parenting, family, all ages, classroom, small group, sporting group, play group)
• The particular stories shared by the facilitator or group members will help to ground these principles for a specific context, e.g. parenting pre-schoolers. If a large, diverse group is being facilitated, it may be subdivided according to interest or age group.
• This process of learning based largely on participants sharing stories and gleaning hints from each other generally results in a deeper sense of community and shared journey.
• The guided sessions will also model and demonstrate the efficacy of some of the tools in the toolkit, for example, strategies for working with others (Tool #4 Personality Keys) or the helpfulness of good routines (Tool #10 Good Routines). The format is flexible and can be adapted to numbers, venues and time available.
• Only one of the tools has an overtly Christian world view as it’s basis (Tool #8 Apology). This tool can presented in ways that promote respectful dialogue with other world views or can be left out. Toolkit is therefore entirely suitable for secular use.

Where ever and when ever a Toolkit event is facilitated:

• To photocopy or to use any Toolkit notes or web information in a cafe, playgroup, forum, discussion group, seminar or the like is entirely possible but
  • only with permission; and
  • only if facilitators and participants have obtained a subscription to Toolkit. No other licence fee will apply.
• Contact, permissions, free email signups (Toolkit Snippets) and Toolkit Subscriptions are handled entirely online. (See below)

Fair use:

• Anyone holding ‘Toolkit’ notes (however they were obtained) or anyone browsing subscriber (free) or member (Paid) areas of the website (however that access was obtained) should be or become a subscriber (free) or member (paid) of ‘Toolkit for growing great kids’ thus honouring the work of the author.
• Anyone is free to browse a facilitator’s notes or the website at a Toolkit event but not take notes or access codes home unless they have become at least a subscriber (free) and ideally a member (paid) of Toolkit.
• Anyone may enjoy a facilitated conversation and sign up as a subscriber (free) and receive ongoing emails of the newsletter, ‘Toolkit Snippets’ while taking their time to consider taking out a once-off Toolkit Membership.

The guidelines for hosting an event are entirely consistent with the principles outlined in many of the tools.

Organisers of a Toolkit event will need to:

• appoint a facilitator to lead effective group communication (demonstrating Tool~01 Relationship! Relationship! Relationship! & Tool~13 The clear instruction) and a helpful, healthy learning process (demonstrating Tool~01 Research & Tool~10 Good Routines);
• decide on a suitable formal or informal venue … a school, church, local hall, cafe or even a private home if the group is small … ensuring a suitably engaging and safe environment. (demonstrating Tool~02 An engaging environment); and
• ensure a warm welcome of participants, determining if, how and when the provision of beverages and snacks is appropriate (demonstrating Tool~03 A warm welcome).

The key to the success of a Toolkit event is an excellent facilitator of group discussion. Facilitating anything for a group of people is a sometimes difficult task so call in your best facilitator. Often only a little knowledge of a specific area is required for a facilitator in order for them to engage people in a helpful process. Even in a cafe with only two or three people, someone with facilitation skills who is asking the right questions, listening and clarifying effectively, helping everyone to be heard and thanking people for their contributions will always be important asset to the process.

• The basic cost to all participants is a one-off membership to toolkit.midst.com.au
• A membership gives life, member-access to online resources and forums.
• In those instances where an external facilitator is engaged, costs associated with time, travel and printing of resources and presentation will need to be negotiated.
• Venue & hosting costs including food/beverage/decor.
• Other costs as determined by organisers.
• If this event is to be used as a fundraiser, that extra donation cost per person will need to be added.
• If a Toolkit event is sponsored, sponsors may also display and/or sell appropriate resources and programs related to topics presented.

Any holder of ‘Toolkit’ notes (how ever they were obtained) should ideally be or become a subscriber (free) or member (paid) thus honouring the work of the author.

If you are browsing subscriber areas or member areas of the website (however that access was obtained) you should ideally be or become a subscriber (free) or member (paid) thus honouring the work of the author.

By all means browse, enjoy and sign up to a free subscription and receive ongoing emails of ‘Toolkit Snippets’ before taking out a once-off membership.

To photocopy or to use any Toolkit notes or web information in a forum, discussion group, seminar or the like is entirely possible but:

• only with permission; and
• only if facilitators and participants have obtained a membership (paid) to Toolkit.

No other licence fee will apply.

Contact, signups and subscriptions are handled entirely online. See below.