Children Matter

     Recently, there has been much discussion on Adverse Childhood Experiences (or ACEs) and the effect of those early experiences on school-aged children.  Because of the child's adverse experiences outside of the school setting, children come to school not ready or able to learn.  They are too worried about what may be happening at home to even begin to concentrate on learning.
     This is why it is so vitally important to meet each child where they are.  Here are some basic ideas about how best to do this daunting, but necessary task:

• offer a comprehensive, systematic approach that groups identified protective factors for mental health.
• provide ideas for strengthening the protective factors that early childhood education and care services can influence to reduce the impact of risk factors.
• consider how relationships, the environment, policies, practices, events and children's development and learning influence the well-being of our children
• involve all members of the education and care community including children, educators, directors, families and external community services 

     Additionally, children need to be a part of a caring community.  They need the opportunity and guidance to develop appropriate social and emotional skills.  Parents and caregivers need to work together for what is best for the child.  If a child is experiencing mental health issues, that child needs to receive the help of a trained professional in the mental health field.
     In order to teach the whole child, we, as educators, need to meet each and every  child where they are, not where we wish they were.