Social media is not inherently helpful to young people. The impact of social media and what youth see and do online depends on several variables. An adolescent’s personality, psychological characteristics, social circumstances, context in which... Continue reading.
Cultivating Belonging: Alternatives to Suspensions for Nurturing School Communities
One of the most common misconceptions about schools becoming trauma-informed and resilience-focused is that the approach allows space for excused behaviors and creates opportunities for students to escape the consequences of their choices. However,... Continue reading.
The Vaping Epidemic
Vaping is a public health concern of epidemic size identified by several health agencies, including the United States Department of Health and Human Services, The Public Health Administration of Canada, the National Center for Chronic Disease... Continue reading.
Building Resilient School Communities: Making PBIS Trauma-Informed and Resilience-Focused
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has been widely adopted in schools as a framework for promoting positive behavior and preventing disciplinary issues. However, as our understanding of trauma and its impacts on learning and... Continue reading.
Supporting Staff Towards a Resilience Focused Mindset Shift
Mindset is the most critical step for making lasting changes within a school or organization aspiring to be trauma-informed and resilience-focused. We know that when trauma-informed, resilience-focused adults work within trauma-informed and... Continue reading.
Fostering Healing Communities: Implementing Trauma-Responsive Restorative Practices in Schools
Establishing safe and nurturing environments is paramount for the comprehensive growth of students. Educators across the world are working diligently to identify effective strategies to strengthen skills of empathy, conflict resolution, and... Continue reading.
Nurturing Minds: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Fostering Student-Educator Relationships
In the realm of education, the adage "students don't care how much you know until they know how much you care" holds a profound truth. As educators, our primary responsibility extends beyond the delivery of academic content; it encompasses the... Continue reading.
Behavior is your clue: Understanding the window of tolerance
Behavior is communication. Even though adults often tell children to “use your words,” the reality is that children (and adults, too) often struggle to find the words to describe what they are feeling and what they want or need. This is... Continue reading.
Looking through a Circle of Courage Lens: Why the “other kids” are not the “other kids”
It is bound to happen. In a school, a daycare, a sports practice – maybe even in the middle of a religious service. A child – of any age – will misbehave, perhaps melt down, and even experience a crisis because, for any number of... Continue reading.
Nurturing Yourself: A Trauma-Responsive Approach to Post-Holiday Self-Care by Practicing Resilience
The holiday season, with its festive cheer and joyful gatherings, often marks a time of celebration and togetherness. However, for many individuals, the holidays can also bring about stress, triggering memories of past traumas and exacerbating... Continue reading.
Resilience I Spy
Finding the Circle of Courage in Action Start the New Year with a focus on resilience by teaching your students about the Circle of Courage. Then, challenge them to eye-spy the resilience model’s components in action. Circle of Courage: A... Continue reading.
Intentional Connection Over the Holiday Break
We are quickly approaching the final days of instruction for many before schools close for holiday breaks. A lot of teachers and students are looking forward to a couple weeks of rest, relaxation, and some fun. However, breaks from school for... Continue reading.
Stress and Trauma in Disguise
Jack, a 3rd grader, has difficulty paying attention to the teacher and staying in his seat in the classroom. He often blurts out answers without raising his hand and never stops fidgeting. He looks so much like he has ADHD. Susie, a... Continue reading.
Children’s Grief and Loss
Grief and Loss Grief is the acute pain that accompanies loss. Grief reflects what we love and for this reason, it can feel overwhelming and all-encompassing. Any loss can cause grief. We often think about death when we hear the word grief.... Continue reading.
Giving and Gratitude: Experiences to lower stress and boost happiness in adults and children
Benefits of Giving and Gratitude The holiday season is upon us. During this time, there will be many opportunities to experience giving and gratitude both of which provide many benefits for health and overall well-being. This is essential... Continue reading.