Growing Children’s Emotional Health: Selected Slide
Dr. Cheryl Conant, MCFD Child & Youth Mental Health
November 22, 2013
Overview
 What is emotional health?
 The social context for development
 Understanding brain development
 The impact of stress
 Contexts that grow children’s
emotional health
 Toxic stress and trauma
Dr. Cheryl Conant, Registered Psychologist
Child and Youth Mental Health Services
Ministry of Children and Family Development
Cities Fit for Children 2013
The Social Context for
Development
 Children develop in the context of
relationships
 Coping with emotions and managing
behaviours occurs in the brain
 Early experiences
help shape the brain
and how it works
 Trauma-informed practices
 The adolescent brain
Brain Development
“fire together,
wire together”
Repeated experiences create
connections that are the
organizing templates of
development and how future
experiences are understood
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multime
dia/videos/three_core_concepts/brain_architecture/
Secure Attachment Grows
Emotional Wellness
Attachment to a caregiver is for
child survival:
•The attachment figure is needed
To interact with the world
To assist when hurt, ill, upset or afraid
To manage emotions (regulate distress)
• Interfering with attachments increases
stress and elevates risk of poor development
Model: Circle of Security
Attachment figure provides:
•SAFE HAVEN
“Support my exploration”
•SECURE BASE
“Welcome my coming to you”
(Circle of Security)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cW2BfxsWguc
Circle of security watch 1:21-3:20
What if?
How Babies Regulate Stress
Still Face Experiment
Dan Siegel’s
Hand Model of the Brain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD-lfP1FBFk
Dan Siegel 2:31
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apzXGEbZht0
2:49
Growing
Emotional Health
Bruce Perry: we have created a culture that
doesn’t meet child’s biological (includes
relational) needs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vak-iDwZJY8
Start2Finish: Running and Reading Clubs
Children are paired with adult coaches. Meet
weekly to run and then read together. Build up to
a 5K at the end of the year. Watch to 2:12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p75j-QsDcGk
Canadian Self-Regulation Initiative
http://www.self-regulation.ca
The Toolbox
High quality, consistent childcare
Knowledge Exchanges: child
development, parenting
Active neighbourhoods
Attachment-based programs such as Circle of
Security, Canadian Self-Regulation Initiative
Lifestyle choices that shift culture
Support for stressed families
Cities Fit for Growing Emotional Health
Increases number of relationships
with caring adults
Is repeated regularly
Integrates physical activity
Enhances connections with others
Reduces distractions
Provides opportunities for helping
Shifts culture – shares knowledge
Toxic Stress
Trauma-Informed Practice
ARC treatment model: Blaustein & Kinniburgh
When adults are unable to respond to
help child cope with stress
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multi
media/videos/three_core_concepts/toxic_stress/
The Adolescent Brain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZK
cN0hRTVM
“A World of Their Own; the Teenage
Brain”
From PBS The Secret Life of the Brain
Series
(Attachment/Self-Regulation/Competency)
http://www.traumacenter.org/research/ascot.php
Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics: Perry
http://childtrauma.org/
For schools: www.childhood.org.au/training/
learning-resources
BC Ministry of Health: http://bccewh.bc.ca/
publications-resources/documents/TIP-GuideMay2013.pdf
References/Resources
•Social & Emotional Development in the Early Years
created by the B.C. Healthy Child Development
Alliance www.childhealthbc.ca/bchcda
•Evelynwotherspoon.ca
• Klaus M, Klaus P. The Amazing Talents of the
Newborn: A Video Guide for Healthcare Professionals
and Parents www.parentsaction.com
•Harvard Center for the Developing Child
www.developingchild.net
Hang on to Your Kids: Neufeld & Mate 2004
Parenting from the Inside Out: Siegel & Hartzell, 2003
References/Resources
• Bruce Perry (2006) The Boy Who Was Raised As a
Dog and other stories from a psychiatrist’s
notebook: what traumatized children can teach us
about loss, love and healing
• Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson (2011) The
Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to
Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind
•
•
•
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Zero To Three – www.zerotothree.org
Mind in the Making – www.mindinthemaking.org
www.albertafamilywellness.org
www.raisingchildren.net.au
Keep striving to make the world
the best it can be for kids!
A songified message from Kid President:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFGcrYPdrJU
Adults making friends in a ball pit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfHV4-N2LxQ