By Nicole Colchete and Daniella Rueda, CEI Interns CARE. The CARE (Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education) teacher training program is a MindUP. Similar to CARE is the MindUP program which is created ‘with educators, for educators to help RISE. Last but not least, the RISE program serves institutions such as schools and healthcare entities. All three mindfulness programs, along with several others, share certain qualities that make them the perfect teacher-friendly

By: Madison Rogas, CEI Intern Asana Games Asana, or pose, games are great ways to get preschoolers up and moving and teaches them to be creative. When doing any type of activity with this age group, it is important to keep their attention span in mind and keep activities between 15 and 30 minutes. Book Worm ‘“ Books about animals are a great way for children to use their imagination. Any book about Simon Strikes a Pose ‘“ This game is the little yogi version of Simon Says. Th

By Dana Asby, CEI Intern The importance of the first five years. Difficulty with emotional regulation often results from an absence of positive mental models for how to soothe extreme emotions by calming physiological and emotional reactions to uncomfortable stimuli. Parents play a crucial role in this process. Epigenetics, the way that early home environments turn on certain genes, plays a large role in brain development. Maternal support in early childhood can predict the v

Suzan Mullane, CEI Faculty and Trustee “You have to fix the hole in the soul before you can teach grit” (Oprah Winfrey 2018, CBS This Morning Interview) Promoting safety through intentionally positive relationships provides the foundation to create calm and ‘grow brains.’ In young children, and all children, emotional resiliency which can be strengthened by the presence of a caring, nurturing adult becomes part of the neuroplasticity process. This process can be considered to

By Andrew Davis, CEI Intern ‘I asked him, ‘˜Do you have a homework routine?’ The answer was a clear ‘˜No. I just get it done after I play outside,’ Jake said. His grades were reflecting the inconsistent quality of his non-strategic approach. After asking, it became clear how he felt about his work. He wanted to do well, yet he often would say he did not like school and would not put forth the effort when the work was ‘˜boring. ‘˜Sometimes I just want to play outside and it’s 

By: Dana Asby, CEI Intern Free Online Training. Many organizations whose purpose is to advocate for Topics include: The Role of Trauma Among Families Struggling with Substance Abuse The 12 Core Concepts for Understanding Traumatic Stress Responses in Children and Families Creating Trauma-Informed Systems Schools and Trauma Much of the training geared specifically to teachers focuses on strategies teachers can use to develop self-regulation skills in their traumatized students

By: Dana Asby, CEI Intern I spoke with Ben Simpson, an immigration lawyer with Cohen Formane Barone, LLP who has been connecting science to personal experience. Mr. Simpson echoed the sentiments of the Society for Research in Child Development, which released a paper by ten researchers underscoring the fact that Latinos in America not directly affected by the current immigration crisis are nonetheless experiencing increased levels of anxiety. Mr. Simpson described how an immi