Starting the Day With a Calming Routine
July 26, 2019
By: Lori Desautels
Source: Edutopia
Exercises that help young students who’ve experienced trauma transition into the school day in a relaxed and ready state.
For the past year and a half, I’ve been working with the directors and educators at St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center in Indianapolis. During my frequent visits, I’ve been introducing brain-aligned sensory and motor system strategies for emotion regulation to 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children.
Many of these children have experienced significant adversity and trauma, and their brains are functioning in a survival state originating from these early life experiences. Many don’t have the secure emotional attachments that we all need, and as a result they may have disorganization in the lower brain regions, which prohibits healthy brain development. This can lead to dysregulation and chronic behavioral, social, and academic issues.