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10. Stress Busters: For Students by Teachers

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10. Stress Busters: For Students by Teachers

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9. Video: Educating for Happiness and Resilience

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9. Video: Educating for Happiness and Resilience

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Educating for happiness and resilience | PHE Canada

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Most parents and educators want children to be happy, but school does not teach children how to be happy. Schools teach achievement, thinking skills, conformity, literacy, math, discipline and some types of success. So how do we prepare children for life? How do we provide them with the skills to na…

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Teaching emotional literacy is the first step to developing empathy in children.

Connect with your child on an emotional level.

In the book "Unselfie: Why empathetic kids succeed in our All-About-Me World," educational psychologist Michele Borba talks about the importance of empathy, why children are having a harder time developing it and how to help children learn empathy to succeed.

Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone's shoes and understand what they are going through; it's the ability to feel what they are feeling. Why is empathy so important? With ongoing societal issues like bullying and youth mental health concerns, teaching empathy to children is more important than ever.

Empathetic people have the ability to connect with others on a deeper level and can lead to individuals being helpful, involved and invested in other people. In our social society where we have to rely on each other, empathy is an increasingly important tool to connect with the world.

Emotional literacy

The first step to developing empathy is emotional literacy, or the ability to read or recognize your own emotions and the emotions of others so that you can figure out what they are feeling. Emotional literacy is noticing what other people are feeling. By tuning in to what other people are feeling, you have accomplished the first step towards developing empathy. In fact, according to Borba and lots of other research, this emotional literacy is associated with children who are smarter, nicer, happier and more resilient, and kids who are better adjusted emotionally, are more popular and outgoing.

Why is emotional literacy difficult?

We are constantly "plugged in." Emotionally literacy skills require face-to-face reciprocal interactions to develop. In our digital world, where we are constantly engaged in one-way interactions via technology, we are simply giving children less opportunity to engage in meaningful and two-way, face-to-face interactions with others, which is a big part of developing emotional literacy skills.

Our expectations for boys and girls differ. Because of our social gender norms, there is the belief that boys and men should not express their emotions as it makes them too feminine, less manly or weak. In line with that belief, we tend to talk more about emotional experiences with girls than with boys. As a result, girls tend to be better at tuning in.

We are busy and distracted. Borna says, "Each swipe and type means less talking with, next to or face-to-face with our kids and missed empathy-building opportunities." Technology can be part of the problem. When we are on our cell phones or tablets or watching television, we tend to curtail actual interactions with our children. It's not always technology that is the culprit, however. Sometimes it's our workload, schedule or the ever-constant struggle to keep things balanced and everyone happy.

Teaching emotional literacy

Borba has identified her four steps to tuning into feelings:

1. Stop and tune in. Connect with your child on an emotional level. Move past the distractions and actually, intentionally and fully connect with your child each and every day.

2. Look face-to-face. The first step to good communication is eye contact. Get down on your child's level and show them you are interested and invested by using good eye contact.

3. Focus on feelings. Children need to learn not only are feelings important, but how to express those feelings. Give them good words to use like I-statements: I feel ______ when you _______. Give them words to describe how they feel like mad, angry, embarrassed, frustrated, shocked and ecstatic. Ask good questions: "You seem really upset, what are you feeling right now?" Help children connect their physical reactions to the underlying emotions: "I see your face is getting red, are you feeling angry?"

4. Express the feelings. Before children have developed their emotional vocabulary, you will need to help them express their feelings, like "You must have been so excited when you were picked for Student of the Week." Once children have learned the words necessary to express their emotions, you can ask them "How do you feel?" It's also important to ask your children how they think other people feel: "How do you think he felt when she three sand at him?"

Tuning in is the first step to raising empathetic children. For more information about how to help children develop empathy, check back for more articles in this series.

For more articles on child development, academic success, parenting and life skill development, please visit the Michigan State University Extension website.

Other articles in series
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Children and empathy: Teaching emotional literacy

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Teaching emotional literacy is the first step to developing empathy in children. In the book "Unselfie: Why empathetic kids succeed in our All-About-Me World," educational psychologist Michele Borba talks about the importance of empathy, why children are having a harder time developing it and how to help children learn empathy to succeed.

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Getting Started With Trauma-Informed Practices

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2. Video: supporting our students with healing

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2. Video: supporting our students with healing

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Trauma, Brain & Relationship: Helping Children Heal

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3. Classroom Tips for becoming Trauma Informed

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3. Classroom Tips for becoming Trauma Informed

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4. Workshops on becoming trauma sensitive

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4. Workshops on becoming trauma sensitive

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Trauma is often the underlying cause of many of the most pressing problems of our communities including but not limited to: poverty, crime, violence, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, low academic achievement, mental health problems and addiction.

Although trauma may be central to many people's difficulties, in health care and social service settings, their trauma is often not identified or acknowledged. Frequently those affected by trauma do not receive the care or understanding they need, and are at risk of being re-traumatized by the very systems they are seeking help from, which in turn may increase their involvement within the system. Every organization plays a role in supporting trauma recovery.

Trauma-Informed Care Workshop, Online (1/2 day)

This introductory half-day workshop explores what trauma is, the principles of Trauma Informed Care and how to integrate a trauma-informed perspective into our everyday interactions. Included in the session are mindfulness practices and the opportunity for self reflection.
This workshop is geared for service providers, students, front line staff, clinicians, management and anyone else who is interested in incorporating the principles of Trauma Informed Care.
Pre-registration is required. After registering, please watch your email for the link to this virtual workshop. Online Registration - CLICK HERE

Upcoming Sessions:

Dates: Thursday March 17, 2022
Session Times: 1:00 to 4:00pm
Cost: $50.00
Schedule is subject to change.
Registration questions? Email education@klinic.mb.ca or call 204-784-4066
Upon Request and Subject to Availability
Presented to individual service organizations and their employees. Contact education@klinic.mb.ca or call 204-784-4066 for more information

Within Winnipeg:
Cost: $200.00

Outside of Winnipeg:
Cost: Additional Fees to be discussed

Vicarious Trauma (1/2 day), Online - NEW

This 3 hour virtual workshop for service providers will look at the definition of trauma, and vicarious trauma, as well as the impact of trauma on our minds and bodies. In exploring the warning signs and risk factors of vicarious trauma, strategies to address and protect from the impact of the work will be highlighted. This workshop incorporates mindfulness activities to provide participants with the experience of these practices and how they might be useful in mitigating the impact of vicarious trauma. This workshop is meant to look at our own stress responses and incorporate stress management and selfcare in our everyday lives.
This workshop is geared for service providers in caring professions who may be impacted by the trauma they witness in their work.
Pre-registration is required. After registering, please watch your email for the link to this virtual workshop. Online Registration - CLICK HERE

Upcoming Sessions:

Dates: Thursday April 14, 2022
Sesssion Time: 1:00 to 4:00pm
Cost: $50.00
Schedule is subject to change
Registration questions? Email education@klinic.mb.ca
Upon Request and Subject to Availability
Presented to individual service organizations and their employees. Contact education@klinic.mb.ca or call 204-784-4066 for more information.

Within Winnipeg:
Cost: $200.00

Outside of Winnipeg:
Cost: Additional Fees to be discussed

Vicarious Trauma (Trauma Exposure Response)

This one day interactive workshop for service providers will look at the definition of trauma exposure response, its impact on our minds and bodies as well as the neurobiology of trauma. In exploring the warning signs of trauma exposure response, strategies to address and protect will be highlighted. This workshop incorporates mindfulness activities to provide participants with the experience of these practices and how they might be useful in working with, and being affected by trauma exposure response. This workshop is meant to look at our own stress responses and incorporate stress management and self care in our everyday lives.
This workshop is geared for service providers in caring professions who may be impacted by the trauma they witness in their work.
Workshops at Klinic During COVID-19 (Read More)

Pre-registration is required. After registering, please watch your email for the link to this virtual workshop. Online Registration - CLICK HERE

Upcoming Sessions:

Dates: POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS - NEW DATE TBD
Session Time: 9:15am to 4:00pm
Cost: $100.00
Schedule is subject to change
Registration questions? Email education@klinic.mb.ca or call 204-784-4066
Upon Request and Subject to Availability
Presented to individual service organizations and their employees. Contact education@klinic.mb.ca or call 204-784-4066 for more information.

Within Winnipeg:
Cost: $300.00

Outside of Winnipeg:
Cost: Additional Fees to be discussed

Becoming Trauma-Informed: Mind/Body Approaches To Creating Connection (2-day)

This two-day interactive workshop aims to provide knowledge to counsellors and other service providers working with adults who have experienced or been affected by trauma. It will also help service providers and organizations to work from a trauma-informed perspective and develop trauma-informed relationships that cultivate safety, trust and compassion.

This training shifts the focus away from a position of "What is wrong with you?" to one that seeks to understand "What has happened to you and how can I help?" This exploration of trauma-informed counselling differs from a more traditional hierarchical/expert approach to one of curiosity, partnership and empowerment.

The training provides participants with an understanding of the symptoms of trauma, as well as the impact of trauma, with particular emphasis on the relationship between trauma, emotions, neurobiology and the three phases of recovery within supportive relationships. Participants examine their own understanding of healing and the role they play in facilitating this process in the context of trauma.

Over the course of the two days, service providers will also learn how they care for their own emotional self and protect themselves from the affects of Trauma Exposure Response (Vicarious Trauma.)

Note: The training provides practical tools for assisting people to better understand and regulate intense emotions. Each participant will receive a DVD that provides examples of various grounding techniques as well as a resource guide on trauma.

The information in this workshop builds on the material in the Trauma Informed Toolkit. The complete Trauma-Informed Toolkit can be viewed online and printed at no charge by visiting the website www.trauma-informed.ca. Bound copies are available for purchase - https://klinic.mb.ca/about-klinic/resources/
This workshop is geared for those who have a basic understanding of counselling and the recovery process.
Pre-registration is required. After registering, please watch your email for the link to this virtual workshop. Online Registration - CLICK HERE

Upcoming Sessions:

Dates: POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
Session Time: 9:15AM to 4:00PM
Cost: $200.00
Schedule is subject to change
Registration questions? Email education@klinic.mb.ca or call 204-784-4066
Upon Request and Subject to Availability
Presented to individual service organizations and their employees. Contact education@klinic.mb.ca or call 204-784-4066 for more information.

Within Winnipeg:
Cost: $500.00

Outside of Winnipeg:
Cost: Additional Fees to be discussed

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Trauma-Informed - Klinic Community Health

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Trauma is often the underlying cause of many of the most pressing problems of our communities including but not limited to: poverty, crime, violence, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, low academic achievement, mental health problems and addiction. Although trauma may be central to many people's difficulties, in health care and social service settings, their trauma is often not identified or acknowledged.