Part 3: Considering The Different Kinds of “Why?”
The Self-Reg educator or parent seeks to understand, rather than manage a child’s behaviour. In effect, what is being reframed here is what it means to see the Kindergarten teacher as a professional and not a glorified [...]
Two Shining Examples of Social Engagement that Helps Parents
By John Hoffman In a past blog I suggested that the most important single factor in good parenting was not sensitivity, not parenting skills, but support—feeling well supported in your role as parent. Parents who [...]
Part 2: Reframing “Challenging Behaviour” in Kindergarten
Kindergarten marks a major transition in children’s lives: from being coddled infants to being treated as responsible individuals. They are students now, and as such they have to meet certain expectations, as noted in an [...]
“It’s not tight enough!” One Child’s Experience of Tactile Defensiveness
By: Alison Cass Ronald,* age five, is an empathetic and hard working child. His parents have taught him love, kindness and compassion. Each day he works harder than most children in my kindergarten class. Ronald [...]
Singing goodbye to my mom: How the five practices of Self-Reg are helping me through my grief
My mom closed her eyes for the last time on a Sunday night last September and she took her last breath almost 5 days later. Over a short series of blogs to follow, I will [...]
“Reframing” Challenging Behaviour, Part 1: Blue Brain, Red Brain, and Brown Brain
The Different Kinds of “Why?” Parents of new babies are forever asking why. “Why is she crying? Is she hungry, wet, scared, lonely, bored?” Since we can’t just ask her, we put on our [...]
My Dysregulated Day … And How I Almost Missed It
The more that you learn about Self-Reg, the more that it seems to govern your views of everything in your life. Sometimes I'm sure that Stuart Shanker's questions of, "Why?" and "Why now?" never leave [...]
See a Child Differently and You’ll See a Different Child
This was originally an article in the Self-Reg Parenting Magazine Vol 1 Issue 2. Take a look at this picture and tell me whether there’s something in the duck’s bill: Now take a look at [...]
How Can Self-Reg be the Foundation for Mental Well-being?
Psychiatrist Jean Clinton has been an internationally renowned expert and advocate for children’s mental health for over 30 years. We were thrilled to have Dr. Clinton at our summer symposium once again last summer. In [...]
No Such Thing as a Bad Kid
This was originally an article in the Self-Reg Parenting Magazine Vol 1 Issue 2 Children have such different ways of responding to being over-stressed. Some get physically ill. Some get nervous and anxious. Some become [...]
Transitioning to Kindergarten Without The Stress: A Self-Reg focused approach to welcoming children to school
By: Tiffany Goulet The first day of school... For some it’s exciting, for others terrifying. For some it’s long awaited, for others it arrived too soon. For some they feel ready, for others not at [...]
The Clean Up Conundrum — We Know That Self-Reg Is The Answer, But What Can We Do?
Usually when I contribute a post to The MEHRIT Centre blog, I do so as a way to share reflections, celebrate a success, and discuss some possible next steps. My posts are always about what I [...]
Words Matter. But Sometimes the Interbrain Matters More.
How many times have you really needed and wanted to support a stressed out person, only to find that your supportive words just didn’t do the trick? (Pick me!) I’m sure we’ve all had this [...]
The Time Mom “Went Limbic” Over Some Pancakes
“Can you cut my pancakes for me mom?” “No Siena, you need to cut your own pancakes.” Then came the 9-year-old version of a protest: that slumped over, big sigh drama moment about the unfairness [...]
Reaching Out: The Most Important Parenting Skill of All?
I recognized the tone of voice right away. My friend Mara* was on the line. (*names changed at family’s request) “How are you doing?” I asked. “I’ve been better,” she replied. Mara’s voice caught a [...]
My Sick Day: Making It Through Thanks To Foundations 1
It's the start of cold and flu season in Ontario. I often joked that I was "immune to getting sick," having spent so many years around kids and germs, but this year, it got me. [...]
Blue Brain Red Brain Balance is the Key
Parents are forever asking us: “Can Self-Reg help me with my child’s challenging behaviours? Nothing I say or do seems to help.” Self-Reg will indeed make a difference—a huge one—in dealing with problems like explosive [...]
The Adult Version Of “Can I Play Too?”: My Experience With Social Stressors
I am currently enrolled in a Teacher Leadership course through our Board. This is the second face-to-face course that I've taken, and in both cases, I've struggled with the same thing: those initial social interactions. If I [...]
What’s Different (and So Great) About Self-Reg
As a journalist, researcher and father, I have been studying the fascinating, messy world of child development for 30 years. I’ve had many aha moments, and surprising insights over the years, but in the past [...]
What Does It Really Mean To Restore?
By: Nancy Niessen I thought I knew what Step 5 of Shanker Self-Reg was all about. As I delved into Step 5 more deeply in the Level 2 Facilitator Program, my understanding became fuzzy before [...]