How to Create Calming Spaces for Children in Transitional Housing and Domestic Violence Shelters
Explore ways to create calming spaces for children in transitional housing “There’s not really any place for me,” Alice told me one day when I joined her for our school’s free breakfast program. She was dunking French toast sticks in a plastic container of syrup and downing them so fast I knew she probably hadn’t […]
Bedtime anxiety in children in transitional housing, plus easy ways to help
Learn why children in shelters and transitional housing can have trouble at bedtime Why children in transitional housing often struggle with sleep She’s been absent for a little over a week. Calls to her home went unanswered. Another student of mine, her neighbor, told me, “The cops were there late one night. I saw the […]
Trauma-Informed Sleep Support for Children in Shelters
Learn how to help children in transitional housing get better sleep Why children in shelters struggle to sleep Sleep disruption is extremely common for children, and the phrase “bedtime battles” was coined for a reason. But for children entering a shelter or transitional housing program, challenges at bedtime are more problematic than sneaking out of […]
Pediatric Procedure Anxiety: Why Preparing a Child Is Not Always Enough
Explore ways to help children in medical settings Understanding pediatric procedure anxiety Parents and pediatric professionals often hope that if a child has been carefully prepared for a medical procedure, the experience will unfold more smoothly. The explanation may have been thorough, the steps described in detail, and the child may have listened attentively, nodding […]
Pediatric Procedure Anxiety: Why Regulation Matters More Than “Calm Down”
Learn how to reduce pediatric procedure anxiety Telling a child to “just calm down” in a hospital setting often sounds reasonable to the adults in the room. A procedure needs to happen, time is limited, and everyone wants the moment to move forward. But when a child is anxious and dysregulated, calming down is not […]
What is Pediatric Comfort Tool?
Discover what a pediatric comfort tool is and how to use them Have you ever thought about how hard it is to be a child in a medical setting? Or how they are constantly asked to do hard things, like hold still for procedures, sleep in unfamiliar rooms, separate from their parents, navigate pain or just wait? […]
4 Non-Pharmacological Tools to Manage Pediatric Procedure Anxiety
How to use comfort tools to reduce procedure anxiety Children in medical settings are often asked to tolerate experiences that feel unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and frightening. For clinical teams, these are routine events; but for children, they often trigger a negative stress response. When anxiety escalates, procedures become more difficult; their cooperation drops, their muscles tense, […]
Can Mindfulness Art Therapy Help Kids Feel Better? Plus, 7 simple practices to try at home
Explore mindfulness art therapy Have you ever noticed how calm kids become when they start creating a piece of art? Even after the most hectic day, a box of crayons and a coloring page can be all that’s needed for little ones to relax and unwind. But what if there was more to this art-induced […]
What is trauma-informed meditation? And, can it calm kids?
Explore trauma-informed meditation Meditation is increasingly being used to improve children’s mental and physical well-being, with research continuing to demonstrate its powerful and life-changing benefits. Children who meditate, or practice mindfulness, experience more calm, less stress, better sleep, and increased attention, just to name a few. But children who have experienced trauma might need to […]
What is habit stacking? Plus, 6 easy habits kids can try
Explore habit stacking for kids Chances are, you’ve heard that a healthy routine is good for both mental and physical health. It makes sense too, as your brain loves to reliably know what to anticipate throughout the day. Habits and routine help to prevent anxiety and promote brain development, especially in children. Kids also have […]