Kind Connections Learning

Kind Connections Learning Creating educational resources that nurture the mind & body for regulation & resilience
Fostering - Connection - Compassion - Continuous Growth

Trauma is often misunderstood as the “big” events, but it’s not defined by the event itself. Trauma lives in the nervo...
15/09/2025

Trauma is often misunderstood as the “big” events, but it’s not defined by the event itself. Trauma lives in the nervous system. It occurs when an experience overwhelms our ability to cope, leaving an imprint that lingers long after the moment has passed.

This is why two people can go through the same situation and experience it differently. Trauma isn’t just about what happened, it’s about how our body and nervous system responded in order to survive.

Trauma is stored not only in memory but also in the body, in breath patterns, posture, muscle tension, and even how safe (or unsafe) we feel in everyday life.

For educators, this reminder is vital: behaviours we see in children (and even in ourselves) are often survival responses, not intentional defiance. When we meet these responses with understanding rather than judgment, we create space for safety, healing, and connection.

Healing from trauma is possible. It begins with compassion, regulation, and remembering that the body holds the key to recovery.

https://wix.to/8XVmnop

Long before we can put words to our experiences, our bodies carry and express them. Movement, posture, breath, and eve...
12/09/2025

Long before we can put words to our experiences, our bodies carry and express them. Movement, posture, breath, and even stillness all tell stories of what we’ve lived through and how safe we feel in the present moment.

As educators, this reminder is profound: sometimes a child’s body is showing us truths their brain doesn’t yet have language for. A restless wiggle may be unmet sensory needs. A sudden shutdown may be a nervous system in overwhelm.

And for ourselves, too, our bodies often whisper before our minds catch up.
Tight shoulders, shallow breathing, fatigue… they’re invitations to pause and listen.

When we honour the body as teacher, we open pathways for safety, regulation, and healing. The brain learns best when the body feels seen, supported, and safe.


https://wix.to/AiDK72Q

There are some things in life you can never have too much of, and somatic practices are at the top of that list. As educ...
09/09/2025

There are some things in life you can never have too much of, and somatic practices are at the top of that list.

As educators, our nervous systems are constantly “on,” holding space for the emotions, needs, and energy of so many little humans. It’s no wonder our bodies crave gentle, regulating practices that bring us back to safety and balance.

Here are 8 somatic practices you truly can’t overdo:

- Present-moment focus: anchoring yourself in the here and now.
- Body awareness: noticing where you feel tension, warmth, or calm.
- Grounded breathing: slow, steady breaths that remind your body it’s safe.
- Soft movement: swaying, stretching, or walking gently to release energy.
- Gentle touch: a hand on your heart, belly, or arms to signal comfort.
- Rest breaks: permission to pause, even if just for a minute.
- Self-compassion: speaking to yourself with the same kindness you give others.
- Sensory soothing: soft light, calming sounds, or grounding textures that ease the senses.

These practices aren’t luxuries. they’re essential ways to care for your nervous system and refill your cup. The more you weave them into your day, the more regulated, present, and resilient you become, for yourself and the children you nurture.


https://wix.to/n9PafiO

So often, we rush from one task to the next, with children, with teaching, with life. But what if the most powerful gift...
09/09/2025

So often, we rush from one task to the next, with children, with teaching, with life. But what if the most powerful gift we could offer ourselves and our learners was the pause?

An intentional pause creates space to notice: How am I feeling right now? What thoughts are driving my actions? What do I really need?

When we model this for children, we nurture metacognition, the ability to think about our thinking. And with it comes a powerful ripple effect:

- Emotional regulation grows stronger.
- Choices become more thoughtful and aligned.
- Children (and educators) learn that feelings aren’t obstacles, they’re signals that guide us.

In every pause, there’s wisdom. In every reflection, there’s growth. By teaching ourselves and children to pause, notice, and reflect, we build classrooms, and lives, filled with presence, compassion, and intention.



https://wix.to/92At2m4

Emotions are not problems to solve, they are waves of energy moving through us. As educators, we often carry the weight ...
08/09/2025

Emotions are not problems to solve, they are waves of energy moving through us. As educators, we often carry the weight of many emotions: our own, the children’s, and sometimes even families’. Learning to flow with them, instead of against them, creates space for healing, clarity, and presence.

Here are 5 gentle steps to help you move through your emotions:

- Take a deep breath, anchor yourself in the present moment and remind your body you are safe.
- Find out what you’re feeling: name the emotion without judgment. “I feel anxious,” “I feel tired,” “I feel hopeful.” Naming brings awareness.
- Replace negative thoughts, soften the inner critic with kinder truths. “I’m failing” becomes “I’m learning.”
- Channel your energy, move, write, paint, or sing. Emotions are energy, they need somewhere safe to flow.
- Explore your emotions, ask what the feeling is here to show you. Sometimes, beneath anger is exhaustion, beneath sadness is longing.

Flowing through emotions doesn’t mean bypassing them, it means honouring them as messengers, then letting them move on. When we create space for our emotions, we expand our capacity to hold space for the children we nurture.



https://wix.to/nIVVJ6O

Our nervous systems love predictability. Consistent routines aren’t just schedules, they are signals of safety that...
04/09/2025

Our nervous systems love predictability. Consistent routines aren’t just schedules, they are signals of safety that calm the body and mind.

For children, routines reduce uncertainty and help them feel grounded. For educators, they create structure and flow in the day, reducing stress and decision fatigue. Together, rhythm and routine create an anchor of safety.

When we feel safe, our brains shift from survival into learning, growth, and connection. And in this space of calm, creativity has room to flourish, in the way children play, the way we teach, and the way relationships grow.

Predictability doesn’t mean rigidity. It’s about creating gentle rhythms, the kind that give children (and ourselves) a sense of “I know what comes next.”
From that foundation, we are free to explore, discover, and imagine.

Today, notice where rhythm and routine already support you. And ask yourself: how can I make space for more predictability, not just for the children, but for my own wellbeing too?


https://wix.to/S36H555

Trauma can quietly disrupt the way we notice and respond to the most basic signals of our body, hunger, pain, tension, o...
04/09/2025

Trauma can quietly disrupt the way we notice and respond to the most basic signals of our body, hunger, pain, tension, or even emotion. Instead of feeling safe within, we can feel cut off or overwhelmed.

Somatic recovery begins with interoceptive awareness, the ability to sense and listen to the subtle cues within. Healing isn’t about fixing the body, but about gently rebuilding trust and connection with it.

Here are a few practices that support this journey:

- Neutral body tracking: Gently notice sensations in simple areas like your hands or feet. There’s no goal, only awareness.
- Micro movement: Tiny actions, like stretching a finger or softening your breath, help reclaim agency and choice.
- Tolerate non-reaction: Practice being with stillness, letting “nothing happen” without forcing change.
- Allow natural releases: Trust your body’s wisdom in sighs, yawns, or trembles. These are ways survival energy completes its cycle.
- Body mapping: Imagine exploring your body like a landscape, not to fix, but to rebuild familiarity and acceptance.

For educators, these gentle steps are more than self-care, they’re a way to come home to yourself. The more safety and connection you cultivate within, the more present and grounded you can be with the children in your care.

Healing begins with awareness. Your body is not your enemy, it holds the map back to wholeness.


https://wix.to/H68m8Lg

Being kind to ourselves isn’t just healing, it models for children how to treat their own minds and bodies. Self-compa...
04/09/2025

Being kind to ourselves isn’t just healing, it models for children how to treat their own minds and bodies. Self-compassion helps reduce stress, increase resilience, and foster positive relationships, building a classroom culture grounded in care and understanding.


https://wix.to/kDKHazy

Some days feel heavier than others. On those days, it can be easy to slip into autopilot, carrying stress in your bod...
04/09/2025

Some days feel heavier than others. On those days, it can be easy to slip into autopilot, carrying stress in your body and mind without even noticing.
But even the smallest acts of self-care can remind your nervous system that you are safe, held, and not alone.

Here are gentle ways to support yourself when the day feels too much:
- Do a brain dump or journal; let the thoughts out of your head and onto the page.
- Unplug from social media; give your mind the gift of quiet.
- Meditate or practice breathwork; a few deep breaths can shift your whole state.
- Read uplifting quotes or affirmations; words can be anchors of hope.
- Use a self-care checklist; remind yourself of simple, doable steps.
- Reach out to a friend or step into nature; connection and fresh air are medicine for the soul.

Self-care doesn’t have to be perfect or polished. It’s about listening to what you need in this moment and giving yourself permission to pause.

Remember: taking care of yourself is not selfish, it’s the foundation that allows you to keep showing up with heart.


https://wix.to/d8KG2xk

03/09/2025

Feeling stretched thin? You’re not alone.

This month, I’m hosting a 30-Day Educator Wellbeing Challenge, simple daily reflections, glimmers of gratitude, and gentle practices to keep us grounded.

I’ll be showing up with you every day in our private group - sharing my own journey, insights, and stories, because we all deserve balance, connection, and support.

Come join us here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17KTavfmUa/

Let’s do this together. Because educator wellbeing matters.


https://wix.to/mKrYOSW

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