It seems like each month that passes by is filled with greater concern about the repercussions of challenging and traumatic occurrences in our world. Thankfully, this awareness is opening the door for an expanded call for strategies towards resilience. After recent years filled with much more loss than usual, the NYT presents practical ways to move through grief and encounter healing through resilience. This article describes how children all over the world are naturally widening their ability to regulate through learning skills for processing and coping in play. On a larger level, we are grateful to see President Biden and the current administration acknowledge the need for more high-quality services across the country, especially those targeted to youth. To read more about how the White House plans to address this important issue, check out this coverage from NPR.
One incredible way that children build resilience is through relationships with teachers and peers in supportive school environments. Here, NPR describes how well different states are supporting kid’s mental health through school and mental health care services. The story is based on a new School Mental Health Report Card put out by Hopeful Futures Campaign that details 8 dimensions for addressing wellbeing in schools. Meanwhile, The Boyce L. Ansley school is working hard to make sure currently homeless kids can experience stability, individualized education, and mental health support through their special attention to these issues. We love the ways that the school promotes positive experiences by uplifting and caring for these deserving kids.
Finally, we are excited to present this children’s book written by Dr. Chelsea Morris, a member of our Education and Training Committee and faculty director for Resilient Georgia partner Center of Excellence Early Learning Center, featuring a friendly spider named Suri who gives kids strategies for problem solving dysregulating social situations, such as friends who won’t share their toys. We encourage teachers (and other adults as well) to utilize this resource as a way to introduce and strengthen emotional resilience.