Defining a Stress Backpack

Every kid carries a different size stress backpack. We don’t realize this. We think stress is a constant, the same for every child. But it is not a constant, it is a variable. A function of the child’s biology, their upbringing and home life, their social experiences, the manner in which they process different kinds of information.

To take one example, a child with hypersensitive hearing has to burn a great deal of energy in a noisy classroom. Another child might find that same noise level invigorating. The former tenses up to guard against the noise, while the latter experiences a release of energizing dopamine. Children can’t tell us how big their stress backpack is, but they show us in their behaviour, attention, and emotions. In Self-Reg we learn how to read these signs and respond to the child’s self-regulation needs.

How Self-Reg Can Reduce the Weight of Stress Backpacks

“Stressors across all five domains add to the student’s heavy stress “backpack” and impinge on the quality of their relationships—with peers, with educators and school staff, with their families, and with themselves.” p. 156-157. AND from the preface xiii Stuart Shanker’s 2012 book Calm Alert and Learning helped educators and educational leaders across Canada and beyond learn to reframe not just their students’ behaviours but also their “I made a difference” moments and those times when their stress backpacks outweighed their internal resources to respond.”

– Susan Hopkins, Self-Reg Schools: A Handbook for Educators

How Do You Learn Self-Reg?

Here at The MEHRIT Center, we believe in ‘just in time’ resources and the evolving learning journey we are all on. Whether you are learning the basics or ready to embark on a certificate learning for yourself or your whole team, we have a starting place for all:

• Books
• Blogs & Vlogs
• On-Demand Webinars
• Self-Paced Courses
• Certificate Programs