We live in an imperfect world, characterized by pain, suffering and turmoil. Although we don’t like to think about it, often children are the victims of horrific circumstances through no fault of their own. We call these circumstances and experiences “childhood trauma(s).” This blog post is aimed at providing parents and teachers with information and additional resources to help children through traumatic experiences and their aftermath. What qualifies as “childhood trauma?” The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies defines “childhood trauma” as “negative events that are emotionally painful and that overwhelm a person’s ability to cope.” The society notes that childhood trauma is most disastrous in its negative effects when it is inflicted by another person, intentionally. What are some of the types of childhood trauma?
What are the on adults who experienced childhood trauma? Adults who suffered childhood trauma face many consequences. As stated earlier, trauma “overwhelms a person’s ability cope.” Psychology Today reports that people who experienced childhood trauma often experience these four consequences:
Does childhood trauma affect an individual’s physical health? Yes! Check out this TED Talk by Nadine Burke Harris, M.D. What are some signs a child may have experienced something traumatic?
PROMOTING HEALTH IN AN ERA OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY4/18/2018 0 Comments TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT American children are in the grips of an overwhelming obesity epidemic that is sweeping the nation and showing no sign of slowing down. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, since the 1970’s, rates of childhood obesity have tripled. In 2015 and 2016, research determined that roughly 20% of children (ages 6-19) were obese. For context, obesity is simply having “excess body fat” (which varies in amount by age). For a child who experiences obesity, the immediate consequences include decreased social and emotional health, as well as an increased chance they will experience the following conditions later in life: fatty liver disease, sleep apnea, Type 2 diabetes, asthma, heart disease, high cholesterol, and orthopedic problems. As parents, educators and community members, we can make a difference in stymieing the tide of childhood obesity. This blog post will discuss how to do just that. What are the causes of childhood obesity:
Additional Resources:
INCORPORATING NATURE IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT3/13/2018 0 Comments This blog post is focused on providing parents and educators with information relevant to the benefits of incorporating nature into child development, as well as practical ways to accomplish just that. What are the benefits of incorporating nature into a child’s learning experiences? The research is clear, incorporating nature in a child’s learning experiences is extremely beneficial for their development. According to the Natural Learning Initiative, outdoor learning experiences benefit children in the following ways:
Children and adults interact with the natural world every day. It is where we make our lives, and it contains the water we drink, the land on which we plant our feet, and the air we breath. Teaching children to love nature will as a result teach them to value it. To value nature is to take steps to conserve it, something society increasingly needs. According to the National Wildlife Federation: “Cornell University found that children who spend significant amounts of time immersed in nature and the outdoors such as camping, hiking, or other nature activities in their younger years are more incline to be conservationists or at least be conservation-minded as adults.” What if going outside isn’t a readily available option due to weather or other circumstances? While it is encouraged that children get outside to play and learn, it is not always an option. Wisconsin winters and wet springs can make outdoor play next to impossible. Here are some resources for how you can incorporate nature indoors.
CHILDREN AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION2/13/2018 0 Comments Conflict isn’t just for adults. Children of all ages experience conflict and it’s unpleasant effects. This post is designed to provide educators with additional resources and information pertaining to helping children in their care build their conflict resolution skills. What is “conflict resolution?
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AuthorBlake Kraussel Archives
December 2020
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