Tagged With "Intro to Organizing Your Initiative"

Stressed? Anxious? A little overwhelmed and you havenʻt even stepped out the front door? When are under chronic stress and our stress response system is constantly activated, what is a symptom of stress, becomes a trait or characteristic in which we (or how we may judge others) are viewed. We often respond with the, “worse part of ourselves” as oppose to a “pause and check” which allows us to respond to situations with more clarity from our “higher” brain functions. Over the next serious of...

85% of our brains are formed in the first 1,000 days of life! Research supports that a child and their caregivers build intimate bonds, emotions are learned and shared at this critical developmental age. In our "Mindfulness Minute Series" we look at the infant/toddler years and building a strong base of support for our little keiki! This article from the good folks at Child Care Resources of Rockland provides a great tip in doing a "body scan" when interacting with your little keiki. Body...

Kilo is the Native Hawaiian art of observation. Through Kilo , we become part of our environment by watching, observing, examining and even forecasting. Children learn best through play. During the developmental stage of a preschool keiki (child), it is important that a child has opportunities to interact with his/her environment. This is when a keiki is beginning the process of scaffolding information to make sense of the world and learn new things. Kilo can be natural for a keiki at this...

Our Mindfulness Minute Series (4 of 6) emphasizes self-regulation and self-awareness for your elementary-aged keiki (child). As I mention in my trainings, the strategies we use to help our keiki, “return to center” are the same strategies we can and should use in our daily lives. Stressed students cannot learn, stressed children have difficulty at home and stressed educators can have difficulty teaching and stressed caregivers . . . well, you see my point. waterford.org “seeks to blend the...

Our Mindfulness Minute Series (5 of 6) looks at the middle school years. As mentioned in the the 2nd installment of this series, the first 1,000 days of a child’s life is highly critical as this is where 85% of the human brain is formed and hopefully healthy, secure and consistent attachment is developed between the child and their caregiver(s). The middle school years are also a critical stage because of the biological and psychological development of your student/child. This is a stage...

Each exercise shared in this series addressed a certain age group of a child but can help adults restore and maintain calm as well. I highly encourage you to review each of the segments in this six-part series and see what works for you in various stressful situations. The “4-7-8 breathing exercise” (part 1) is an effective strategy when I am on a plane or before I speak before an audience. The “growing like a tree” (part 3) activity helps when I first wake in the morning as I step out of...

A study published in the JAMA Network on Pediatric research, dated December 12, 2022, found that mobile devices for calming children ages 0-5 decreased executive functioning and increased emotional reactivity (particularly with boys ages 3-5 and keiki with higher tempermental surgency). There are many apps and resources, many that are free that can teach and coach self-regulation, just be sure that they are age and developmentally appropriate. There are many calming activities that we can do...

We are thrilled to announce the 3rd annual Kahewai Summit TIC conference for 0-5 providers! Please "Save the Date" for our 4/21-22 /2023 virtual gathering. Last year, over 400 people attending the Kahewai Summit. Are you interested in presenting? In the embedded link, there is a "call for proposals" please share this information to your fellow providers or contact speakers that youʻve enjoyed in the past and want to see present. There are three Summit tracks, each aligned to the audience...

I don't mean to offend anyone, but there is power in word choice. The word "Resilience" or the description of someone who is "Resilient" at times can be overused. It is kind of like when I point out to my daughters (and it is met with "eye rolls") the misuse of the word "love," when the say, "I love chocolate!" Okay, some of you might actually use "love" in this case- no judgement here :D. I know I am bias and proud parent, but my daughter Cassidy is truly "resilient." She has been through a...

Aloha, May is Mental Health Awareness Month. The National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI) is kicking off a social-media awareness campaign with #MoreThanEnough to bring celebration, support and awareness to mental health awareness. On PACES Connection Hawaii, we will begin with a series on "Resilience." Links and thoughts will be shared that will include research and practice-based strategies to build wellness and resilience. Our first link is from Psychology Today written by Kristin...

PACEs Connection is excited to kick off our 2023 Creating Resilient Communities (CRC) Annual Accelerator Program.

Aloha, I began the month with a post on medical trauma as an ACE category. I wanted to add this link to a Mid-Pacific school newsletter that was posted on May 23, 2023. It is a well-written article by MPI Sophomore, Carly Kaneshiro. Here is a TIC workshop strategy that could help you engage your audience. I would use this article and have participants circle/hi-lite the "traumatic experiences" as well as the "protective factors and elements of resilience" that they viewed. This exercise...

In our efforts to build wellness and resilience through TIC strategies for keiki “ children ”, we have a unique opportunity to incorporate the rich and diverse traditions of Indigenous cultures. By integrating Indigenous cultural practices and values, we can create an environment that not only supports our keikiʻs emotional well-being but also honors our heritage. In this blog post, we will explore how childcare providers can incorporate Indigenous culture into trauma-informed care practices...

In a conversation with the remarkable Aunty Pua Burgess, a treasure of hope and resilience, she shared with me a valuable piece of wisdom: "Become a steward, not a victim of the experience." This pearl, along with many others, provided me with a much-needed boost on my resilience journey. Throughout life, we inevitably encounter the "bridge of hope" – a necessary pathway we must traverse when faced with trauma, either firsthand or while supporting others in adversity. It marks the point...

This Kupuna and her 'ohana are so blessed with wisdom and ALOHA. I am yet to meet her one day. Mahalo for sharing. Blessings to you and your 'ohana. Cheri

Natural calamities and crises, like the current wildfires on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, can deeply affect our keiki's physical, social, and emotional well-being. During these trying times, it's essential for parents and caregivers to provide effective emotional support. This blog post is dedicated to helping our keiki navigate the challenges posed by such events. With their limited life experiences and heightened emotions, children require special care to help them feel safe, secure, and...

It’s time to take action and make our voices heard to build healthy, resilient communities! The Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) is organizing trauma-informed advocates, activists, and stakeholders to urge their U.S. Senators and Representatives to support two bipartisan, bicameral bills that would significantly help prevent, address, and mitigate the negative impacts of trauma through community-based/led initiatives.

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, educators found themselves in a frenzy for professional development, particularly in Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), as fear, predictions, and anxiety spread by either misinformation (or disinformation). Since 2020, many educators and social service agencies have embraced the concept of being 'trauma-informed.' I had the privilege of being part of a remarkable team of advocates and agencies that successfully lobbied for Hawaiʻi to become a 'TIC State' through...

Knock! Knock! - Okay, I won’t go there, nor will I make your eyes roll (as my daughters often do) with a “Dad Joke.” Instead, I’d like to highlight the benefits of laughter and how we can use it in our early learning settings. Beyond lightening our day or evoking a happy memory, research shows that regular laughter can support our “body, mind, and spirit.” It strengthens the immune system, distracts us from pain, and helps mitigate stress. Laughter calms our nervous system, “relaxes” our...