Village Engagement Matrix™
The Village Engagement Matrix™ is the framework that turns the idea of a Top-Notch Village into reality. It is both a map and a mirror — showing how children, families, and village members align, interact, and evolve together across each stage of childhood.
Born out of Dr. El’s lived experience as a mother raising a child on the autism spectrum — and strengthened by her doctoral research in Early Childhood Education and Family Engagement — the Village Engagement Matrix™ is a practical, replicable tool rooted in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory.
It illustrates how alignment works:
• Families, providers, and community members understand their role in a child’s life.
• Engagement becomes intentional, not accidental.
• Collaboration strengthens because is moving in the same direction.
The Village Engagement Matrix™ is more than theory. It’s a system that equips organizations, teams, and communities with a shared language and structure for building their own Top-Notch Villages™ — where children feel safe, seen, and secure, and where adults have the clarity and confidence to help them win.
Below is the Village Engagement Matrix™—a color-coded map of how children, families, and village members align across each stage of development.
In this framework, RED marks the child’s journey, YELLOW shows the family’s role, BLUE highlights village members, and TAN represents the outcomes when alignment is achieved.
How to read it: Each row is a stage of childhood. Left → Right: RED = child, YELLOW = family, BLUE = village, TAN = outcomes.
Village Engagement Matrix™
My Kid (Birth to 2 years)
• Learns to trust their caregivers by feeling safe, loved, and cared for every day.
• Starts to understand their feelings as parents respond with warmth and consistency.
• Builds confidence in their world as they experience love, routine, and connection.
Guardian Phase
The Guardian Phase is a period of transition as families adjust to life with a new child. During this time, guardians build trust and security by consistently responding to their child’s physical and emotional needs, creating a foundation of love, safety, and connection that sets the stage for deeper understanding in later phases.
Example: A caregiver soothes their baby by holding them close, rocking them, and singing lullabies, helping the child feel secure, comforted, and connected to their voice and rhythm.
Hand Holders
Hand Holders provide families with reassurance, guidance, and hands-on help to ease the transition into parenthood. They ensure caregivers feel capable and supported in their role.
Example: Postpartum doulas, parent educators, seasoned parents, home visitors, and community elders offer knowledge, encouragement, and resources.
My Kid Desired Outcome
The child develops secure attachment, trust, and emotional stability, establishing a foundation for self-expression, exploration, and early communication.
Super Kid (2 to 4 years old)
• Starts to see themselves as their own person with likes, dislikes, and feelings.
• Gains confidence when caregivers encourage their choices and let them explore safely.
• Learns how to connect with others by watching, playing, and interacting in new spaces.
Explorer Phase
Explorers shift from meeting their child’s basic needs to discovering who their child truly is. Having built a secure attachment in the Guardian Phase, they now see their child as an individual with unique preferences, emotions, and ways of engaging with the world.
Example: A caregiver realizes that their child, once soothed by rhythm as a baby, now lights up whenever they hear music, so they introduce more singing and dancing into daily routines.
Guides
Guides expand the child’s world by introducing structured social experiences while reinforcing the secure foundation built by Hand Holders. They help families bridge early development to interactive learning environments.
Example: Parent-child playgroup facilitators, early childhood educators, and librarians provide safe spaces where children explore social interactions, creativity, and new ways to
express themselves.
Super Kid Desired Outcome
The child builds independence, self-awareness, and early social skills, establishing a foundation for emotional intelligence, relationship-building, and confidence in structured environments.
Super Duper Kid
(Pre-K through 2nd grade)
• Feels good about who they are when adults affirm their efforts and strengths.
• Learns to keep trying when things don’t work out the first time.
• Begins to understand emotions and relationships by practicing kindness, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Architect Phase 1
Architects reinforce perseverance by teaching children that emotions are a natural part of learning and important indicators of their experiences. Building on the independence developed in the Explorer Phase, they encourage problem-solving and self-confidence.
Example: A caregiver sees their child working hard to build a block tower and resists the urge to fix it, instead asking, Have you considered trying it another way? or What else might work?
Builders
Builders expand the learning from Guides, reinforcing emotional intelligence and confidence as children navigate structured environments. They create opportunities to practice persistence, collaboration, and problem-solving, preparing them for deeper skill development.
Example: Preschool teachers, after-school staff, and mentors strengthen social-emotional learning through teamwork, turn-taking, and cooperative activities, preparing children to engage with Engineers who will refine their skills.
Super Duper Kid
Desired Outcome
The child develops perseverance, confidence, and collaboration skills, strengthening their ability to work with others, manage emotions, and approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. This foundation prepares them for deeper skill refinement and responsibility in the next phase.
Super Duper Epic Kid
(3rd through 7th grade)
• Becomes more independent and starts making more choices on their own.
• Builds problem-solving skills by thinking through challenges and taking responsibility.
• Feels proud of their growth and accomplishments as they try new things and gain skills.
Architect Phase 2
As their child’s skills, interests, and needs evolve, parents shift from receiving support to actively curating a village. With confidence in their knowledge of their child, they identify the people and resources needed to help their child grow further, faster with support.
Example: A caregiver recognizes their child’s continued interest in music and seeks out a skilled instructor, ensemble, or mentorship program to provide structured opportunities for development.
Engineers
Engineers build on the foundation set by Builders, providing structured opportunities for children to refine their skills, take initiative, and gain confidence. They create environments where persistence, problem-solving, and leadership are applied in real-world ways.
Example: Music instructors, robotics coaches, team leaders, and mentors guide children through hands-on experiences that challenge them to set goals, think critically, and grow.
Super Duper Epic Kid
Desired Outcome
The child sharpens their skills, strengthens their independence, and builds problem-solving abilities, preparing for leadership, responsibility, and real-world application.
Super Duper Young Person (8th through 12th grade)
• Starts taking charge of their own goals, dreams, and future plans.
• Learns how to make decisions, set goals, and figure out what steps to take.
• Becomes more confident speaking up for themselves and leading in different situations.
Navigator Phase
Navigators support their child in setting goals, creating a strategic plan, and identifying the village members needed to help them succeed. Parents shift from directing to guiding, trusting their child’s vision while helping them make informed decisions. The child steers the course, while the parent ensures they have a strong roadmap.
Example: A caregiver helps their child map out the steps to attend their dream college or explore a future career.
Pathfinders
Pathfinders introduce opportunities, mentorship, and guidance as young people take ownership of their journey. They provide real-world exposure to leadership, career paths, and skill development.
Example: High school counselors, career mentors, coaches, and program leaders connect students to leadership roles, extracurricular activities, and hands-on learning experiences that align with their interests and future goals.
Super Duper Young Person Desired Outcome
The young person develops autonomy, critical thinking, and self-advocacy, establishing a foundation for navigating adulthood with confidence and purpose.
Super Person
(Young Adulthood)
• Makes decisions about their life with confidence and clarity.
• Knows when to ask for advice but trusts themselves to make the final call.
• Steps into adulthood with a strong sense of who they are and what they want.
Consultant Phase
Consultants shift from active guidance to providing wisdom and support as their young adult takes full ownership of their life. Parents trust the foundation they’ve built and offer insight when requested, allowing their child to navigate adulthood with confidence. Their role is no longer to lead but to be a trusted advisor, always available when needed.
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Example: A parent listens as their child considers a major career or financial decision and offers perspective, but ultimately lets them make the final choice.
Consultants
Village members transition into lifelong supporters, offering mentorship, connections, and guidance when called upon. While their direct influence is reduced, their presence remains valuable in reinforcing the skills and confidence they helped build.
Example: Mentors, community leaders, and former teachers serve as professional references, networking connections, or trusted advisors as the young adult navigates new opportunities.
Super Person
Desired Outcome
The young adult confidently makes decisions, manages responsibilities, and knows how to seek guidance and support when needed.
The Village Engagement Matrix™ provides the map—our Top-Notch Villages™ Training System shows you how to bring it to life.
Village Engagement Matrix