RESEARCH
ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
ACES Definition from the CDC:
"Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. As such, early experiences are an important public health issue. Much of the foundational research in this area has been referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs can be prevented." https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/
Trauma and Trauma Sensitive Environments
"FACT: Trauma can impair learning. Single exposure to traumatic events may cause jumpiness, intrusive thoughts, interrupted sleep and nightmares, anger and moodiness, and/or social withdrawal—any of which can interfere with concentration and memory. Chronic exposure to traumatic events, especially during a child’s early years, can:
- adversely affect attention, memory, and cognition
- reduce a child’s ability to focus, organize, and process information
- interfere with effective problem solving and/or planning
- result in overwhelming feelings of frustration and anxiety (From The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: "Trauma Facts for Educators" http://nctsn.org/products/complex-trauma-facts-for-educators
However, "Childrens brains have the ability to change and reorganize in response to new experiences; therefore, having healthy and consistent interactions with (informed) early childhood educators can greatly influence their brain development and their ability to engage successfully in the early childhood setting." (Trauma Sensitive Classrooms Cole et al. 2005, pg 77-78.) Therefore, SonShine Early Childhood Academy creates a trauma sensitive enviroment in which teachers and all staff are knowledgable about the devastating affects of trauma and create a safe, loving, and nurturing environment that responds appropriatley and intentionally to the individual needs of all children.
For more information see "Creating Sensitive Classrooms" at https://www.naeyc.org/system/files/YC0515_Trauma-Sensitive_Classrooms_Statman-Weil.pdf
RESILIENCE
The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult which we provide at the Academy! These relationships provide the personalized responsiveness, scaffolding, and protection that buffer children from developmental disruption. They also build key capacities—such as the ability to plan, monitor, and regulate behavior—that enable children to respond adaptively to adversity and thrive. This combination of supportive relationships, adaptive skill-building, and positive experiences is the foundation of resilience.
Brain Architecture
"Early experiences affect the development of brain architecture, which provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. That's why the services we provide children at SonShine are so critical! Just as a weak foundation compromises the quality and strength of a house, adverse experiences early in life can impair brain architecture, with negative effects lasting into adulthood." (Center on the Developing Child Harvard University
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/)
Toxic Stress
"Toxic stress weakens the architecture of the developing brain, which can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health. Experiencing stress is an important part of healthy development. Activation of the stress response produces a wide range of physiological reactions that prepare the body to deal with threat. However, when these responses remain activated at high levels for significant periods of time, without supportive relationships to help calm them, toxic stress results. This can impair the development of neural connections, especially in the areas of the brain dedicated to higher-order skills." (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University)
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/