Description

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The emotional lives of young children are growing increasingly more complex. There is growing interest in understanding early mental health and wellbeing and how early childcare providers can support children birth to age five who have experienced traumatic events and learn strategies to promote children's social and emotional development. Supporting Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Strength-based Approach for Early Childhood Educators incorporates strength-based child care strategies to foster positive reciprocal relationships between caregiver and young children and strengthen children's resiliency and wellbeing.

Strategies include building on children's mental health and resiliency; identifying protective factors and indicators of risk; promoting healthy attachment; and, scaffolding social and emotional development within the context of family relationships and culture.

Supporting Children's Mental Health and Well-being covers
Introduction to national statistics on the growing concerns regarding early mental health and traumaThe impact trauma has on the developing brainThe impact of children's behavior on the workplace and teacher burnoutStages of typical social-emotional developmentStrategies to collaborate with families, public school systems, and community servicesOutlining practices to build resiliency in children and teachersCreating psychologically safe spaces for children and adultsBuilding a toolkit of resources and strategies

About the Author

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Jean Barbre, EdD, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP1-II). As a licensed marriage and family therapist, she blends her knowledge of counseling and psychology into her understanding of children and families. She holds a master's degree in child and family studies from California State University Long Beach, a master's degree in counseling from California State University Fullerton, and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Pepperdine University. She has thirty years of experience working with children and families as a preschool director, classroom teacher, therapist, college instructor, national and international presenter, and guest presenter on public television. Dr. Barbre has published three books through Redleaf Press: Foundations of Responsive Caregiving: Infants, Toddlers, and Twos; Activities for Responsive Caregiving: Infants, Toddlers, and Twos; and the award-winning Baby Steps to STEM. Ingrid Anderson, EdD holds a master's degree in Conflict Resolution and Peaceable Schools from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Portland State University. She has over 30 years working with children and families in city, county, and state governments, children's museums, and now as a faculty at Portland State University. She coordinates the infant and toddler mental health program and the Masters of Early Childhood: Inclusive Education. Her research focuses on early childhood well-being for children and early childhood professionals. Dr. Anderson works nationally and internationally on the development of strength-based approaches to young children, families, and early childhood educators across the curriculum.