✉️Dear Dr. Donna, My daughter is in kindergarten, and she has a “friend” in her class who teases her and others, always demands my daughter’s attention, and threatens to end their friendship if my daughter doesn’t play with her. My daughter is a bit shy and quiet… I think she likes […]
Imagine a school where children, even children under eight, showed each other empathy, and resolved their conflicts with conflict resolution skills and by sharing and taking turns, rather than using physical violence or mean words. It’s possible! Through helping children learn to understand the why behind actions, they can become empowered to solve their problems […]
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” – Nelson Mandela Children are […]
Recently, we’ve seen an alarming report from the CDC that in 2022 that the United States reached a record number of suicides at more than 46,000 lives lost to suicide. The rate of suicides increased between 2011 and 2021 among 10- to 24-year-olds by 60%. It’s clear that we remain in a mental health crisis, and […]
In this article, you will find important information about how to talk to children about common tough topics, including shootings, death, racism, mental health, illness, divorce, and more. Also find a step-by-step guide with a free PDF printable handout for talking to kids about tough topics, in general, tips on trauma-informed care, and book lists to help guide children to exploring […]
How does storytelling help children process intense emotions? Loss and death affect us all – regardless of age. However, it can be especially confusing and overwhelming to children who lack the life experience to comprehend the meaning of loss and death, the basic understanding of these complex emotions, and the ability to process these big […]
Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone. ~Mister Rogers Unfortunately, violence is a part of […]
Q: Dear Donna, My preschool and elementary school-aged children are becoming increasingly aware of world news, from the media as well as discussions in school. My husband and I are struggling to answer their questions honestly, but we don’t want them to become anxious and afraid that it could affect their safety here. How much is […]
In a recent webinar, Dr. Housman spoke to a group of over 3,000 early childhood professionals on “The Power of Emotional Intelligence from Birth to Age 8.” The webinar was framed around the impact the pandemic has on children, as well as educators and caregivers. As we move toward our “new normal”, and a new school […]
We limit how much technology our kids use at home.” — Steve Jobs My feeling about technology in general is very Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Having too little exposure isn’t good, but too much – a few hours turns into six — is detrimental to their brain development and mental health. The temptation for […]
Despite making our time at home as fun and enriching as possible, our kids began flagging somewhere around the beginning of August. My 10-year-old seemed to be weathering the pandemic with as much grace as a 10-year-old could manage: he talked to his friends on Facebook Messenger Kids and even ran Dungeons and Dragons games. But my […]
Juneteeth is a holiday that takes place on June 19th every year to commemorate June 19, 1865, when federal orders declared in Galveston, Texas stated that all previously enslaved people in Texas were free. This momentous occasion fell two months after Robert E. Lee surrendered and ended the Civil War and two and a half […]
While many of life’s enjoyed moments and cherished simple pleasures are being put on hold, that voice in our head continues to call out with moment-to-moment reminders about when we were able to take care of our kids and also to take care of ourselves. The longer we continue to be socially distanced because of […]
Read to discover ideas on how to celebrate Earth Day indoors. “Being able to explore and discover through nature-based play is a child’s work. Earth day is a great reminder to us all that playing, inside or out, is foundational in children’s learning,” says Housman Institute founder Dr. Donna Housman. “It also can help relieve […]
With all of the anxiety surrounding COVID-19 and the constant news alerts, we at Housman Institute & begin to ECSEL thought it might be helpful to compile a list of tips on how to discuss coronavirus with your children: 1. Focus on helping your child feel SAFE. Children can sense your anxiety, so try to maintain a calm environment […]
