HOLIDAY SPIRIT RETRAINING THE BRAIN

RETRAINING THE BRAIN HOW MICHELE BLOCK GAN YELADIM EDUCATORS ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH

By Nicole Blundy, Jewish Community Alliance

“Take your vitamins, eat your veggies, and you need to work out,” are common comments made about improving our physical health. However, we do not really talk about ways to stay healthy mentally. Due to the pandemic, though, more people are opening up about mental health.

As a person that works with young children, I am retraining myself to think objectively instead of subjectively when talking about mental health and children. I have learned many ways to recognize and cope with my own triggers while helping children understand their emotions, feelings, and actions. From S.T.A.R. (Stop, By Nicole Blundy, Jewish Community Alliance

Women’s health and self-awareness is a common topic of conversation today. For children, self-awareness can begin with learning their name, or recognizing themselves in a mirror. They will see themselves making faces or moving in different ways as they feel the control they have over those movements. Take a breath And Relax) breathing to taking moments for yourself, these are all tools that ECE educators use to assist children in trying to understand what is going on in their growing minds.

Children get new information every day which may cause them to be overwhelmed and anxious. They may not express it in the same ways as adults, but they feel it all the same.

Think of how much conscious thinking it takes as an adult to go through everyday life. This requires a lot information processing and reflecting. A child is still learning how to navigate social

One book I really enjoy when teaching self-awareness is titled, "Giraffes Can’t Dance" by Giles Anreae. In this book the children watch as a giraffe tries to move his body in different ways, to match the way other animals move. Is he able to move like them, or does he need to figure out how his own body is meant to move for himself? The tiny humans in my class have a great time trying to move like the expectations. Having new experiences and not knowing exactly how to respond or proceed can cause their stress level to increase. Always acknowledge a child’s feelings by describing what you notice, i.e., “Your bottom lip is out, and you have tears. Your face is telling me you are sad. animals in the book, as well as in their own special ways. It is a fun way to talk about how we may like doing things the same or differently from one another.

Some other books I would like to recommend that help keep the conversation going about self-awareness are: •"A Kiss on the Keppie" by

Lesléa Newman (PJ

Library) •"My Name is Aviva" by

Lesléa Newman (PJ

Would you like a hug?” By observing and acknowledging, it is easier to respond to a child and partner with them to help them maintain good mental health.

Nicole Blundy is a Lead Grasshopper Educator at Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool &

PROMOTING SELF AWARENESS AND HEALTH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD THROUGH READING

20

Kindergarten.

Library) •"Chrysanthemum" by Kevin

Henkes •"The Color Monster: A

Pop-Up Book of Feelings" by Anna Llenas

Whichever books you bring along with you on your self-awareness journey, I hope you keep the conversation going. It is so important to teach our little ones how special they are, in their own ways!

• FAMILY, EDUCATION AND SENIOR LIVING LESLEY KOPLOW TO PRESENT AT CONFERENCE

By Danielle Wirsansky, Jewish Community Alliance

Lesley Koplow, an Early childhood expert, author, and founding director of the Bank Street College Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice, is presenting at the JCA’s 13th annual professional development conference on October 20.

Emotionally Responsive Practice is built on a deep understanding of child

By Bobbie Jo Mentz,

Jewish Community Alliance

With a daily focus on healthcare, the River Garden team encourages ‘wellness’ as the best preventative for aging adults. Here are a few things you can do to take good care of yourself: CHECK YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE Normal blood pressure is critical to preventing heart disease and stroke. A single blood pressure reading doesn't necessarily classify your health, so averaging a series of readings is best and may help you avoid serious illness. development, research on the effect of social and emotional experiences on the developing brain, and the proven positive effects of working partnerships between educators and school-based clinicians. What could be more important in today’s turbulent times?

Koplow is the author of several books including; "Unsmiling Faces: How Preschools Can Heal," GET A FALL SCREENING Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for older Americans. A simple balance test can help you assess fall risk and help you maintain independence. With a few practical life adjustments, you can increase your strength and balance. HAVE YOUR HEARING ASSESSED Untreated hearing loss is often associated with lower quality of life, depression, social isolation, high blood pressure and even higher risk of dangerous trips and falls. A simple and painless hearing test maybe just what you need to improve communication and maintain better relationships. CONDUCT A VISION TEST Most adults consider vision the most important sense. Normal effects of aging, family history and environmental factors can all contribute to vision problems. A vision test "Creating Schools That Heal," "Bears, Bears Everywhere: Supporting Children’s Emotional Health in the Classroom," "Tanya and the Tobo Man," and "Politics Aside: Our Children and Their Teachers in ScoreDriven Times."

For the past two years, the JCA’s Educator Support Network (ESN) focused on laying the groundwork for educators to learn about and can reveal warning signs of more serious undiagnosed health problems.

Bobbie Jo Mentz, is an Associate Administrator at River use Conscious Discipline, which is an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach to working with children. This year, ESN is building off Conscious Discipline and focusing on Emotionally Responsive Practice. Additional training is monthly for the remainder of the school year.

Both the conference and trainings are virtual and free

WELLNESS CHECKLIST FOR OLDER ADULTS

for educators and parents. Garden. She works closely with clinical and rehab teams to ensure positive outcomes for our residents and patients.

ACADEMICS + BOARDING + MUSIC + ARTS + SPORTS

+ MORE

There are many pluses to a Bolles education.

Bolles.org

ALL THINGS POSSIBLE