Widening Our Window of Tolerance

Developing practices for improving and maintaining mental health and well-being during stressful times.

The “Window of Tolerance” is a model founded in neuroscience. It offers a way of thinking about how to function optimally in our various roles when heightened emotions begin to have a negative impact. Discovering how to use self and co-regulation strategies to achieve and maintain balance in our lives when encountering stressful situations can help us to keep our windows open.

Compassionate Communication: “What’s That?”

Developing communication skills that nurture human connection and bring about peaceful conflict resolution.

Compassionate Communication stems from the work of The Center for Nonviolent Communication. This human-centered approach to communication offers a way to expand our awareness and understanding of the underlying feelings and unmet needs that drive our conflicts; leading to more trust and safety, greater empathy, respect and cooperation, fewer conflicts, and more engaged learning.

Negotiated Learning: Collaboration in Emergent Curriculum

Developing collaborative educational practices that inspire a classroom culture of creativity, curiosity, discovery, and joy.

Reggio Emilia’s social-constructivist approach to early education offers a way for teachers and families to discover new ways of listening, engaging and building understanding with children. Collectively reflecting on documentation helps inform a project’s direction; and flexible, relationship-driven learning environments are created to provoke and inspire children’s explorations and interests.

Coming to our Senses: The Importance of Sensory Nature Play

Discover the impact of sensory nature play on a child’s development and explore creative ways to support their learning and growth through the natural world.

The Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, brings together a growing body of research that links our mental, physical, and spiritual health, as well as a young child’s healthy development, directly to our association with nature. Referencing the latest research, we will look at the foundations of sensory development, discover the therapeutic benefits of nature play, and explore creative ways we can ensure our children are getting the sensory nature play opportunities they need.