Posts tagged: Trauma

When Children Shoot Children

A 14-year-old Georgia teen brought a gun to school yesterday, killing two other students and two teachers. Eleven other…

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Learning about Self & Others with The Garfield Movie

We often wonder what pets are thinking and feeling, especially when they do something that seems odd or silly. A cat…

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Kids, Ramadan & Food Insecurity

As the war between Israel and Palestine continues, many Palestinian parents struggle to feed their families. Violence…

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Telling Your Child You’re Seriously Ill

After weeks of endless (and often unkind) speculation, we now know: Princess Kate has cancer. She explains that she and…

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When Kids See Life as a Quest

My son jumped excitedly from foot to foot as he waited impatiently for the clock to strike midnight. Our local…

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Spiritual Care with Seriously Ill Children

When a friend’s daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, everyone around them was shocked and dismayed. We wondered how…

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Talking with Kids about the Chiefs Parade Shooting

Nearly a million people were celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs and their Super Bowl win when shots rang out, killing…

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Hanukkah Story Activities

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an eight day celebration that recalls how a small band of ancient Jews…

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Exploring The Coquíes Still Sing

I grew up in Oklahoma, where tornadoes are a common summer occurrence. My family would huddle in the basement as sirens…

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Using Movement to Reduce Trauma Responses

Numerous studies show that stress is on the rise among children. Some experts suggest that school closures and pandemic…

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Exploring Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with Kids

Marvel’s newest release, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3, focuses on Rocket’s origin story as Groot, Mantis, Drax,…

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Talking about Lockdown Drills with One Thursday Afternoon

Lockdown (Active Shooter) Drills have become a staple of children’s lives. Schools and organizations build them into…

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Talking about the Nashville School Shooting

Another school shooting, this time in Nashville. Seven people dead (including the shooter) and many more traumatized…

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Boosting Resilience with a ‘Helping Hand’

My kindergartener woke in the middle of the night sobbing. We had just learned earlier that her friend’s mom had been…

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Spiritual Themes in The Door of No Return

Lessons about slavery in the United States typically begin with life on a plantation in the American South.  This…

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Talking with Kids about the Uvalde School Shooting

A school terrorized by an active shooter. A classroom of children injured and dead. Teachers killed trying to protect…

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Mindful Art

Self-awareness and emotional regulation are spiritual skills that every child needs. Research shows that art activities…

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Talking about the War in Ukraine

A refugee toddler’s body washed up face down on a beach. A police officer kneeling on a handcuffed Black man’s…

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Guiding Questions for Pandemic Programming

Just when we thought it was safe to relax a little, the Omicron variant has swooped in and put pandemic debates in the…

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Creating a Sacred Healing Space

The last two years have been incredibly difficult. Children, as well as adults, have struggled to find spiritual…

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Teaching Tough Topics

Ruth Wills doesn’t believe in shying away from tough topics with children. A few years ago, she developed a method…

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Chapter Books about Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Older children often wonder about the reasons refugees and asylum seekers have left their homelands. They are able to…

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Back to the ‘Kinda’ Familiar

As a new school year begins, many organizations are planning to welcome children back to in-person programs. But…

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