15 activities that’ll get your 4- to 6-month-old reaching, laughing, and learning
Newborns are sweet, snuggly, and oh so cozy, but there’s just something about the shift to the 4- to 6-month stage. Personally, I really struggled to come up with things to do with my sons when they were newborns (plus, there’s the whole recovering from childbirth thing). But as my sons got ever closer to their half birthdays, it […]
Embracing Emotional Wellness Month: A Top-Down Approach for School Leaders
National Emotional Wellness Month is upon us once more, and not a moment too soon. This month marks a time where we can look inward, reflect on our stress levels, and make necessary changes to collectively improve our mental health and emotional well-being. With my years of experience as a clinical psychologist and founder of […]
Not sure how to play with your baby? Try these 14 activities for newborns
This is an excerpt of an article posted on Baby Center, featuring Dr. Donna Housman. Play may not be top of mind when you’re caring for a newborn. After all, the day can fill up quickly with long (and frequent) feeding sessions, diaper changes, and naps. When each of my two sons were newborns, I […]
How to Manage Post-Helene Emotional Toll
Boston, Mass.–Hurricane Helene left catastrophic damage and loss, including the loss of lives, in its wake. As response and recovery efforts are underway, it’s important also to consider the emotional toll the storm has taken on you and your loved ones.
BabyCenter | 15 best activities to entertain picky 2-year-olds
Your toddler loves to say “no” to everything right now – but these age-appropriate activities will still win them over.
Using Scenario-Based Teaching & Storytelling to Support Children’s Emotional Intelligence
In my decades of experience working with children and in the early childhood education field, one thing is clear – children love stories. Not only listening to them, reading them, and exploring the pictures on the pages, but the opportunity to share their own stories (and feelings) with anyone who will listen. When it comes […]
The “As Children Develop” Series Part I: Infants 0-3 Milestones and Activities
There is no faster time of brain development than from zero to three, and some of the most formative experiences that have lifelong consequences occur in early childhood. Because of this period of expedited development, babies’ and young children’s needs vary during these early years. That’s why I’m going to focus on age-by-age information during […]
Back-to-School For Many Will Look Different Than Other Years
Each back-to-school season comes with the typical jitters and excitement; however, this year is unique in that it’s the first time pandemic babies and young children are school-aged. The New York Times¹ recently wrote an article highlighting how the pandemic affected babies’ and young children’s development–with many of them experiencing higher than average developmental challenges. The reason: isolation and […]
Helping Children Navigate Big Changes with “Franklin’s World Takes a Turn”
I’m thrilled that we’ve released the fifth book in the ECSELent Adventures series, “Franklin’s World Takes a Turn.” Each book in the series addresses topical developmental issues by helping children explore their emotions, relationships, and the world around them. Each book is designed with support to scaffold learning around familiar topics children encounter while also […]
Mindfulness & Breathing in Classrooms are First Steps in Addressing Children’s Mental Health, Not the Whole Solution
During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, the New York Times ran a piece entitled “Are We Talking Too Much About Mental Health?” In the article, the journalist cited some research that pointed to the possibility of overdoing coursework in emotional learning and mindfulness. The article explained, “…two research psychologists at the University of Oxford, Lucy Foulkes […]
This Mental Health Awareness Month, Let’s Focus on Connection
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a month where we raise awareness about the importance of mental health and ways to support mental well-being. At Housman Institute, emotional well-being and mental health are central to all of our efforts. In my last blog post, we took a look at a New York Times article that explored chronic absenteeism […]
Absenteeism and Behavioral Issues Are Only a Few Effects of Emotional Dysregulation
The New York Times1 recently explored chronic absenteeism in K–12 students since the pandemic, finding it has spiked and delving into the reasons and statistics. Alarmingly, many of the children have stayed home due to anxiety, other mental health issues, illnesses other than COVID, and to support their families, among other reasons. A Texas mother shared […]
Celebrating Emotional Intelligence Everyday
Emotional Intelligence Day is recognized on June 6th to promote the importance of nurturing self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication. Here at Housman Institute, we’re dedicated to promoting the building blocks of emotional intelligence all day, every day. We believe that educators and parents should be equipped with the tools they need to support children’s emotions in […]
Preventing Bullying by Embracing Differences Through the Art of Storytelling
“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 […]
Bringing in 2024 by Navigating the Path to Becoming our Better Selves Through Emotional Intelligence
Each year we think in earnest about how to become our better selves when traversing questions having to do with our bodies, our minds, and our souls. Whether it be about weight, knowledge, spiritual engagement or our relating and relationships. But what about our emotions – the instrumental force driving our thinking, our behavior, and […]
New Year, New Way of Showing-up
We often talk about how children develop within the context of relationships and that they thrive when surrounded by responsive and empathic caregivers and educators. However, we all know that knowing is one thing–doing is another. We all get distracted and, at times, bogged down by the hustle and bustle of life and the obligations we must fulfill. […]