Oscar*, a kindergartener, tried to get his mother’s attention by pretending to cut her throat with a toy knife. He didn’t follow the rules and ignored his teacher’s instructions at school. Oscar frequently hit his siblings and classmates in kindergarten, the latter resulting in a suspension.
Your Support In Action - Emma and Leigh
“Emma* does what Emma wants to do.” That was what the teacher said of three-year-old Emma, who was referred to EFC’s Early Childhood Outreach (EChO) program because of her volatile classroom behavior. Emma refused to participate in group activities and play with her classmates, hit and spat at others, and rarely spoke.
Your Support In Action - Giselle and Elijah
Giselle*, a single mother of three children, was living in a shelter for homeless families and concerned for her three-year-old son, Elijah*, who threw intense tantrums regularly. Giselle felt concerned about how major changes in their family and housing insecurity was affecting Elijah. How would this stressful season for her family affect Elijah’s ability to cope with life’s hardships as he grew up and when he was an adult? She was at a loss.
Your Support In Action - Melissa and Trinity
“Trinity* thought she ran the house.” That’s how Melissa* described the situation with her three-year-old daughter Trinity. Melissa, Trinity, and her two other daughters were living in a shelter for homeless families. The mother of three had trouble responding to her oldest daughter’s volatile behavior. She ran away from her mom when playing outside, hit her parents and sisters, and had major tantrums every day at preschool drop-off. She refused to get out of the car and screamed, hit, kicked, and flailed when her mother attempted to take her inside.
Your Support In Action - Lydia and Madeleine
Lydia* was a mother living with her four children under the age of 12, including her oldest child, Madeleine. From the time Madeleine was born until she was four years old, Madeleine witnessed her mother in a physically and emotionally abusive relationship. Lydia’s ex-husband would often abuse and taunt her in her toddler’s presence.
Your Support In Action - Natalia and Alex
Positive caregiving is key to creating harmonious households and classrooms full of positive relationships. During one of EFC’s Buffering Toxic Stress workshops for teachers, one of the teachers, Natalia*, realized that the way she talked and thought about some of her students was negative. In her mind, she applied labels like “problem child” or “challenging” to some of her students, which was not yielding positive results.
Your Support In Action - Evan and Alana
Have you ever wondered how exactly your support of Exchange Family Center is transforming children’s lives? Introducing Your Support in Action: real stories about real kids and families in EFC’s therapy programs that YOUR support makes possible. Read and share with your friends stories of how EFC’s programs use play, positive parenting/caregiving, responsive environments, and resiliency to make Durham area children’s lives better. Join us as we show Your Support in Action!
Telehealth—How Virtual Connections Add and Subtract
Feeling Halfway In and Halfway Out | Returning From New Zealand
Neurons that fire together wire together. Things you do over and over again wear pathways in your brain. As a result, songs that I learned in preschool and sang to my daughter and now to my grandchildren are entrenched in my mind. As I sit to write this blog, one comes to mind: The Grand Old Duke of York.
A Great Big Thank You to Our Pinwheels Committee!
This event wouldn’t be possible without the diligent work of the Pinwheels Committee. These eight individuals have given up their time and energy to coordinate activities, contact sponsors, secure donations, organize volunteers, and plan, plan, plan. We see your hard work and are grateful for all that you do!