Creating a supportive environment is helping reduce student behavior issues in Arizona schools and empowering students to pause before they respond instead of reacting to adverse events.
Research shows experiencing six or more adverse childhood experiences increases risk factors for chronic diseases, which can reduce a person’s life by up to 20 years, said Marcia Stanton, coordinator of the Adverse Childhood Experience Initiative at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Adverse childhood experiences include abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence, growing up with family members who abuse substances, mental illness in the household, parental separation or divorce, incarceration of a family member, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse and other stressful or traumatic events.
To address the impact of trauma or toxic stress, many Arizona schools are using calming and relaxation strategies such as yoga, mindfulness and breathing, creating safe environments with soft lighting, artwork and bean bag chairs, building in breaks for movement, and providing opportunities for students to be successful in non-academic activities.
To read more of Lisa Irish's article, visit: http://azednews.com/arizona-ed...a-sensitive-schools/
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