Creating connection: a guide to running the discussion part of your Parent Talk

[.style-intro] The Parent Talk can be apowerful moment of connection, reassurance, and action. But the most meaningful ones aren’t lectures — they’re conversations. If you’re running an SFC Parent Talk, here are some tips for creating an evening that brings parents together and helps them feel seen, supported, and inspired to act: [.style-intro]

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1.  Frame it as a discussion, not a presentation

Advertise the event as a chance for parents to talk to each other, not just listen. While the presentation helps kick things off, try to leave at least half the time for open conversation. It’s often in those honest, parent-to-parent moments — especially when someone with older children shares their experience — that real change begins.

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2. Set up the room for connection

If you can, arrange the chairs in a semi-circle or horseshoe shape. This helps shift the dynamic away from “audience watching speaker” and towards “group in conversation”. If you’re running a hybrid event, make sure someone monitors the online chat and brings in comments from remote attendees.

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3. Start with real parents, not just slides

Before the presentation begins, invite any parents who helped organise the event or who are active supporters to say a few words. Just a minute or two each is enough — it shows this is a grassroots effort and helps everyone relax into the evening.

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4. Balance the time

For a one-hour session, aim for about 30 minutes of presentation, followed by 30 minutes of open discussion. Keep your presentation short and impactful — the real value comes from what happens after.

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5. Reinforce that there’s no judgement in the room

Make it clear that this is a safe and open space. Many families may already have given their children smartphones — and that’s completely understandable. If we had older children, we almost certainly would have too. The pressure is intense, and for years this has been seen as the norm. We also didn’t know what we know now. We’re so glad they’re here — their experience can help the rest of us better understand what it’s like today, and their voices are vital to the conversation.

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6. Avoid “any questions?” at the end

Rather than ending your talk with “Any questions?”, try to have some questions ready for the audience. The parent-to-parent presentation suggests these questions:

What are your thoughts about the Parent Pact? What are your concerns about it?

What are you most worried about in managing the transition to smartphones and social media?

What else could we be doing to help our children around this topic?

This encourages sharing instead of turning it into a Q&A where one person has to be the expert.

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7. Plant a few seeds ahead of time

If you have active supporters or even a few friends coming, ask them in advance if they’d be willing to share a thought or personal experience. These 'seed voices' can help get the conversation flowing, making it easier for others to join in.

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8. Use gentle prompts to break the ice

If the conversation stalls, try asking specific, relatable questions:

“Who here has a child in Year 5 or 6?”

“Are any of you already having phone-related conversations at home?”

This invites hands to go up and gives people a low-pressure way to start talking.

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9. Let it be honest, not perfect

The most powerful moments often come when someone says, “We got this wrong,” or “I wish we’d waited longer.” Encourage honesty, not perfection — and don’t feel you need to have all the answers.

Above all, aim to create a warm, non-judgmental space where parents can share fears, learn from each other, and feel part of something bigger. That’s where real change begins.