Recent Articles
School Start Up: New Friends, Active Learning, Unlimited Potential, and... Stress
The beginning of the school year is an iconic part of the annual calendar. From new classes to new clothes to re-discovering routines that have faded over the summer, there is plenty going on, most of it good and some of it a bit daunting. As parents and educators get ready for the bell to ring, they often reach out for resources to help them help their students and families. Here are a couple that may be of interest.
The Psychology Foundation of Canada has developed a series called “Kids Have Stress Too,” http://bit.ly/1O0PHDf a resource that acknowledges that while stress is normal, many kids don’t have the life experiences or support systems to deal productively with what is stressing them. Overwhelming stress - whether the result of a single traumatic stressor or a barrage of stressors coming all at once - debilitates the youngster. Their capacity to return to a more balanced, productive state (calm, focused and alert) often depends on the adults in their lives to help them re-establish an equilibrium. The “Kids Have Stress Too” series of webinars is a good refresher for parents, early childhood educators and teachers as we open the doors to another school year.
Another new resource that supports children and the adults in their lives is What if I… by author Mary-Catherine Bailey-McKenna. Her engaging and attractively illustrated book is the second in a series and supports emotional and social skill development, recognition of some of the common stressors in kids’ lives, and tips to break the cycle. In addition to being an author, Mary-Catherine is a psychologist who works in private and public settings including schools. She is also a webinar presenter for CSRI on a growing range of topics.
The Psychology Foundation of Canada has developed a series called “Kids Have Stress Too,” http://bit.ly/1O0PHDf a resource that acknowledges that while stress is normal, many kids don’t have the life experiences or support systems to deal productively with what is stressing them. Overwhelming stress - whether the result of a single traumatic stressor or a barrage of stressors coming all at once - debilitates the youngster. Their capacity to return to a more balanced, productive state (calm, focused and alert) often depends on the adults in their lives to help them re-establish an equilibrium. The “Kids Have Stress Too” series of webinars is a good refresher for parents, early childhood educators and teachers as we open the doors to another school year.
Another new resource that supports children and the adults in their lives is What if I… by author Mary-Catherine Bailey-McKenna. Her engaging and attractively illustrated book is the second in a series and supports emotional and social skill development, recognition of some of the common stressors in kids’ lives, and tips to break the cycle. In addition to being an author, Mary-Catherine is a psychologist who works in private and public settings including schools. She is also a webinar presenter for CSRI on a growing range of topics.
Self-Regulation and the Post-Secondary Connection
Earlier this summer, I met a 3rd year Psychology and Criminology major at a self-regulation symposium. Travis Francis is deeply committed to increasing a focus by post-secondary institutions on student mental health and the need for self-regulation strategies. His brief paper/call to action outlines some of the reasons for his concerns. His voice and those of others in his fields of study are behind a “Reach Your Potential” initiative he is launching. More about that on the CSRI site in the weeks to come.
Read Travis' article here.
Read Travis' article here.
Understanding Stress and Anxiety: a Parent Guide to Support Positive Action
Children who learn to respond to stress in a healthy and constructive way early on, are more resilient and better able to cope with whatever life sends their way.
That is the raison d’être for the publication Stress Lessons Parent’s Guide produced and shared by the Psychology Foundation of Canada www.psychologyfoundation.org This free resource aims to support parents and teachers of children in Grades 4-6, but the fundamental truths about stress, anxiety and our capacity to move from surviving to thriving are applicable for all ages. It is another of the important connections to the growing field of self-regulation awareness and action.
We know that stress is normal and we cope with it every day, often while maintaining good health and a positive, well-balanced outlook. However, too much stress in one area or too many stressors overall can lead to anxiety, pushing us into a state of dysregulation. That’s where deeper understanding of neurophysiology can help and where effective/strategic interventions become difference makers. The Stress Lessons guide can be a useful resource to renew/refresh your thinking and your approaches to working with the young people who are counting on our support and guidance.
That is the raison d’être for the publication Stress Lessons Parent’s Guide produced and shared by the Psychology Foundation of Canada www.psychologyfoundation.org This free resource aims to support parents and teachers of children in Grades 4-6, but the fundamental truths about stress, anxiety and our capacity to move from surviving to thriving are applicable for all ages. It is another of the important connections to the growing field of self-regulation awareness and action.
We know that stress is normal and we cope with it every day, often while maintaining good health and a positive, well-balanced outlook. However, too much stress in one area or too many stressors overall can lead to anxiety, pushing us into a state of dysregulation. That’s where deeper understanding of neurophysiology can help and where effective/strategic interventions become difference makers. The Stress Lessons guide can be a useful resource to renew/refresh your thinking and your approaches to working with the young people who are counting on our support and guidance.
It's Not One Behaviour...
…is part of the title of a web post by Dr. Mike Evans. I enjoy reading his articles. They so often connect to self-regulation and reinforce what more and more people are beginning to understand and share about the complex interactions between and among the five domains: biological, emotional, cognitive, social, and pro-social and the environment around us.
Dr. Evans' point is that we achieve and sustain a better state of health, happiness and ability to thrive (the calm, focused and alert level of energy/arousal) when we make the many small changes to routines that may have become incapacitating or destructive. Poor sleep hygiene, lack of activity to expend and restore energy, bad nutrition choices, dysfunctional social connections…can all conspire to lead us into a cycle that is tough to break. The solution isn’t one of those magical “Disney moments” but a whole lot of thoughtful little choices, strategic changes that put the self in self-regulation. Enjoy the article. http://bit.ly/1rrlIKj
The graphic is a nice reminder too.
Dr. Evans' point is that we achieve and sustain a better state of health, happiness and ability to thrive (the calm, focused and alert level of energy/arousal) when we make the many small changes to routines that may have become incapacitating or destructive. Poor sleep hygiene, lack of activity to expend and restore energy, bad nutrition choices, dysfunctional social connections…can all conspire to lead us into a cycle that is tough to break. The solution isn’t one of those magical “Disney moments” but a whole lot of thoughtful little choices, strategic changes that put the self in self-regulation. Enjoy the article. http://bit.ly/1rrlIKj
The graphic is a nice reminder too.
Starting With the "Self" in Self-Regulation
We are really pleased to Introduce another new webinar: Promoting Mental Wellness Through Self-Regulation from our colleagues in West Vancouver School District as they work to strengthen the connection between self-regulation and good mental health. District Principal Maureen Lee’s synthesis of some core elements of the work of Dr. Stan Kutcher and Dr. Stuart Shanker provides a good foundation and a timely refresher to those engaged in the self-reg journey.
As the issue of mental health becomes a higher and more critical priority for individuals, families, communities and schools, it is important to remember the following from 2010, courtesy of the BC Ministry of Health and Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Good mental health is much more than the absence of mental illness -
it enables people to experience life as meaningful and to be creative, productive members of society.
We all play a role in supporting mental wellness and the self-regulation framework is an essential element in that effort. Many thanks to Maureen for sharing her thinking and the the application of a self-reg/mental health approach to understanding and supporting youngsters…and ourselves.
As the issue of mental health becomes a higher and more critical priority for individuals, families, communities and schools, it is important to remember the following from 2010, courtesy of the BC Ministry of Health and Ministry of Children and Family Development.
Good mental health is much more than the absence of mental illness -
it enables people to experience life as meaningful and to be creative, productive members of society.
We all play a role in supporting mental wellness and the self-regulation framework is an essential element in that effort. Many thanks to Maureen for sharing her thinking and the the application of a self-reg/mental health approach to understanding and supporting youngsters…and ourselves.
Inviting Children into the Learning Relationship: a Place Where One Size Doesn’t Fit All
As the self-regulation movement gains momentum in BC, one of the leading school districts in the “First Wave” of this initiative is West Vancouver School District. The team at the school and district level in West Van has been fully engaged in learning, in leadership and in sharing their experiences as they create environments where kids thrive. A deep and well designed journey from awareness to engagement to responsibility for action has become so foundational that self-regulation is now one of the three pillars the district uses in its planning, resourcing and other governance and leadership decisions. West Vancouver is clearly a “self-reg district,” with the language associated with the 5 domain model becoming commonly used by adults and students at school and at home.
The webinar linked here Self-Regulation and Classroom Redesign: Creating Optimal Learning Environments is a good one to share in early July. Summer offers an opportunity to de-clutter, to think about classroom layout and to imagine the creation of micro-climates that can work for the individual children’s learning needs and styles as you invite them into your classrooms in September.
http://elearningcenter.adobeconnect.com/p8mx0a25rwn/
Many thanks to Sandra-Lynn Shortall and Moray Mclean from West Vancouver for being so generous with their time and so passionate about the difference a self-regulation focus is making in their district. I hope you enjoy their story.
The webinar linked here Self-Regulation and Classroom Redesign: Creating Optimal Learning Environments is a good one to share in early July. Summer offers an opportunity to de-clutter, to think about classroom layout and to imagine the creation of micro-climates that can work for the individual children’s learning needs and styles as you invite them into your classrooms in September.
http://elearningcenter.adobeconnect.com/p8mx0a25rwn/
Many thanks to Sandra-Lynn Shortall and Moray Mclean from West Vancouver for being so generous with their time and so passionate about the difference a self-regulation focus is making in their district. I hope you enjoy their story.
"The Face of Childhood is Changing"
…is part of the concluding comments by Mary-Catherine Bailey-McKenna in a new webinar linked here. http://bit.ly/1eJO3dO
Mary-Catherine is the author of Caring Adults Helping Kids book series, with its first title, Instead I… now in its second printing. CSRI asked Mary-Catherine to introduce the themes and concepts in her book, a bright and engaging story about a day at school. The colourful pictures and simple story lines connect with young children’s realities as they navigate daily realities, social interactions and with their developing capacity to respond to the stressors that they encounter, some of which can build to a dysregulated and anxious state.
Instead I… provides a useful reference for kids, their parents, caregivers and teachers on the shared path toward social and emotional skill development by activating the self-regulation framework with its grounding in brain research and emerging understanding of children’s development.
Mary-Catherine is a registered psychologist who has worked in private practice, non-profit therapeutic, and educational settings. Her background includes assessment and interventions with students and families, as well as support to teachers and school staff. She is trained in diverse approaches including EMDR, Neurofeedback, NLP, HeartMath, think-out strategies (cognitive), parent-child bonds (attachment), and trauma recovery. Further information regarding her books will be posted on the CSRI website and we look forward to more web sessions with her on the connection between her work and the self-regulation journey. For more information on Mary-Catherine, go to http://www.ctc1990.com, and click the following link for more about Instead I...
Mary-Catherine is the author of Caring Adults Helping Kids book series, with its first title, Instead I… now in its second printing. CSRI asked Mary-Catherine to introduce the themes and concepts in her book, a bright and engaging story about a day at school. The colourful pictures and simple story lines connect with young children’s realities as they navigate daily realities, social interactions and with their developing capacity to respond to the stressors that they encounter, some of which can build to a dysregulated and anxious state.
Instead I… provides a useful reference for kids, their parents, caregivers and teachers on the shared path toward social and emotional skill development by activating the self-regulation framework with its grounding in brain research and emerging understanding of children’s development.
Mary-Catherine is a registered psychologist who has worked in private practice, non-profit therapeutic, and educational settings. Her background includes assessment and interventions with students and families, as well as support to teachers and school staff. She is trained in diverse approaches including EMDR, Neurofeedback, NLP, HeartMath, think-out strategies (cognitive), parent-child bonds (attachment), and trauma recovery. Further information regarding her books will be posted on the CSRI website and we look forward to more web sessions with her on the connection between her work and the self-regulation journey. For more information on Mary-Catherine, go to http://www.ctc1990.com, and click the following link for more about Instead I...
Summer Symposium & Call To Action
Dr. Stuart Shanker, our friend and international leader in the field of self-regulation, is hosting a Self-Regulation Summer Symposium bringing together researchers, practitioners and others interested in building capacity in this important field. The week long gathering helps to build momentum and networks of practice as we take what we know and apply it to what we do. Follow this link for registration details.
