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Author: Dr. Donna Housman

Back-to-School Jitters or Serious Anxiety and Depression?

In the upcoming weeks, millions of students of all ages will be heading back to school. We all remember those back-to-school jitters, a combination of being excited and nervous about a new school year, but how do we know whether our children are experiencing typical nervousness and anxiety or serious anxiety, and possibly depression, that […]

Teaching Kindness to Preschoolers: Activities, Lessons and a Free Kit

Kindness is one of the most important skills we can have when it comes to connecting to other human beings. Showing and practicing kindness builds community and spreads care and compassion through helpful, empathetic actions and words. But just like any important skill, kindness needs to be nurtured, cultivated and practiced. This happens best when […]

Reflective Practice in Early Childhood & Childcare: Steps and Examples

Reflective Practice is Housman Institute’s adaptation of Reflective Supervision. It is a process that focuses on self-reflection of one’s experiences, interactions, feelings, reactions, and areas of growth to promote emotional awareness, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Reflective Practice creates an environment that promotes self-reflection, empathy, understanding, support, and both personal and professional growth. This comprehensive overview […]

Mindfulness Activities You Can Do with Young Children

Today is International Yoga Day – a wonderful opportunity to ground ourselves, move our bodies in intentional ways, and introduce young children to the world of mindfulness. While today may serve as a reminder to be mindful, the best outcomes will come from integrating mindfulness opportunities into children’s everyday routines.   Mindfulness is all about focusing […]

Improving Teacher-Student Interactions With a Commitment to Emotional Well-Being

I recently attended the NAEYC Professional Learning Institute and led an interactive session on improving Teacher-Child Interactions and addressing head-on many of the challenges teachers and young children have been experiencing over the past several years. It was a dynamic discussion about the importance of emotional intelligence. During the first 1,000 days of a child’s […]

When We Look at Learning Loss, Let’s Remember the Support Adults Need

Two researchers, Tom Kane and Sean Reardon, a professor of education and economics at Harvard and a professor of education and sociology at Stanford, respectively, recently wrote Parents Don’t Understand How Far Behind Their Kids Are in School.  The two gentlemen are part of a team of researchers from Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, and the […]

Focus on Children’s Mental Well-being | Mental Health Awareness Month

Boston, Mass.– May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while people of all ages can experience mental health issues, it can sometimes be easy to overlook the mental well-being of infants and young children. Much has been reported on older groups of children and teens, but there hasn’t been as much focus on infants and […]

The Ottersons’ Eruption and the Art of Storytelling to Support Children’s Mental Health

Infants’ and toddlers’ mental health has suffered significantly over the past several years. Emotions are universally babies’ first language and way of experiencing the world. As such, we have an opportunity to respond empathically to infants and young children and to connect with them in order to support their emotional well-being. Related: The Ultimate Guide […]

How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Topics: What to Say by Age (With Books)

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 […]

Infants’ and Toddlers’ Mental Health Matters, And It Begins With Yours

EdSurge recently reported on the negative impact of the past few years on toddlers’ and infants’ mental health. I agree wholeheartedly that much has been reported on older groups of children and teens, but there hasn’t been as much focus on very young children – including infants and preschoolers. As Meghan Schmelzer, senior manager of infant and […]

Mental Health of Students & Teachers Must Come First

EdWeek recently ran an opinion piece, “What Districts Need When Investing Their Funds.”1 The authors identified multiple areas, such as tutoring, summer learning, and core instruction. They noted toward the end that emotional and mental health supports should be prioritized.   As a psychologist with more than 35 years in the field of child development and […]