Pretend play can reduce anxiety and stress, helping children regulate their emotions, says Stuart Shanker, author of “Self-Reg,” a book on building executive-function skills. It also activates the brain’s reward system, transforming an onerous task into something pleasurable, says Dr. Shanker, an emeritus professor of philosophy and psychology at York University in Toronto.

When Stress Makes it Harder to Listen
From Susan Hopkins, EdD | Executive Director This reflection was originally published in The MEHRIT Centre newsletter. Sign up for




