Emotional Regulation is a hot topic! Come and learn relational skills that will set the stage for more emotional regulation in early learning settings. Leave with hands-on tools & strategies that you can use immediately. Emotional Regulation is a skill that is modelled and practiced by caregivers. This is a skill like all others, they take time and practice to develop. Early Childhood Educators play a vital role in supporting the foundations of mental health in young children. Each day early learning professionals have opportunities to model and help shape children’s emotional regulation skills. Early learning settings that offer emotionally safe spaces and foster emotional awareness teach our children necessary lifelong skills. Topics such as: emotional safety, co-regulation, neuro-affirming practices, developmental trauma, attachment styles, inclusive settings, equity, and staff resiliency are vital for the mental health of our entire ECE community, including children, teachers, and administration. Early learning settings have the potential to be the buffers necessary for the toxic stress levels we are seeing in modern families and harnessing that potential could be life-changing for families.

During this workshop we teach caregivers and educators the science of stress on trauma in children and families. We highlight how the ACEs research can guide and support why we need to create connected, compassionate, and calm relationships with children. We will also look at Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and why it is vital we see its value in this generation of children. See the magic that comes from attuned and empathic relationships, and how we can help children of all ages manage the day-to-day stresses of their lives – especially those with trauma, neurodiversity, and complex attachment styles. We walk participants through the theories of co-regulation of emotion, nervous system regulation, and attachment science. Feeling connection is our most powerful tool, especially if there is developmental trauma or toxic stress in the lives of children. Attunement is a magical place of deep connection that is cultivated when we slow down, get curious, and consciously attune to children. Attunement is a special micro-space that has a frequency - when you feel it, you know it. These connected and compassionate spaces are vital for all children to thrive and shine, but even more so if there has been developmental trauma, attachment issues and neurodiversity. This workshop session is based on the interpersonal neurobiology approach taught to us by Dr. Dan Siegal, which helps us use our personal calm neurology to support attachment, co-regulation and emotional safety. In these emotionally rich spaces children can thrive because they feel grounded, connected and seen.

In this workshop we will show how and why educators need to create connected, compassionate, and calm relationships with children. Come learn why we must also focus on respectful and empathic relationships to help children manage the day-to-day stresses of their lives. We will discuss the best practices and trends that are changing the way we need to address emotional awareness in the lives of this generation of children. When spaces are truly emotionally safe – everything can change for the better. Lisa Pinhorn will walk your educational staff through the theory of Emotional Regulation and how it can expand our understanding of what it means to feel safe within learning settings. Emotional safety is vital to the mental health of our entire educational community, including children, teachers, and administration. Our schools have the potential to be the buffers necessary for the toxic stress levels we are seeing in modern families.