Great Beginnings. Strong Futures.    

Nurturing the Brain: Buffering Toxic Stress through Responsive Relationships
A 3-Part Series

Developed by Betty Rintoul, Ph.D., Encouraging Connections

Recent research has made it increasingly clear that adverse experiences during the period of birth to five years have an enduring impact on the developing brain and body. This three-part training is an introduction to toxic stress and ways young children can be protected by caring early relationships. The first unit introduces the topic of ―toxic stress‖ and its impact; the second unit explores some ways parents and caregivers can protect and heal children from these effects through responsive relationships.

Session II-Buffering Stress through Responsive Relationships
In this session, we will explore how caring adults can protect children from the effects of toxic stress by providing 1) protection, 2) structure, 3) comfort, and 4) coaching. This session includes specific strategies for fostering protective relationships, as well as how to help at-risk children develop emotional and behavioral self-regulation.

Credits: 2.0
Presenter: Aviva Starr