With Pixar's Inside Out 2 now in theaters, I wanted to share some reflections on the first movie. I must admit, as a father of two—one recently graduated from high school and the other graduating next year—I somehow missed this movie. However, in preparation for Inside Out 2 , we had a family movie night and watched it together. It was an amazing experience filled with profound insights. So, although late, I believe these thoughts are still relevant. In the upcoming posts, I'll delve into...

Hawaii's Integrated Infant and Early Childhood Behavioral Health Plan: A Comprehensive Approach to Early Childhood Well-being There are currently many initiatives in play on behalf of young children -- the work of Early Childhood Action Strategy, the Promising Minds Initiative, the Early Childhood State Plan spearheaded by the Executive Office on Early Learning, and numerous others. Through the cross-sector work Early Childhood Action Strategy, it became apparent there was a critical need...

This is an excellent blog for developing resilience skills in your child. It is well-organized, offering a widely accepted definition of resilience, and includes links and videos for professional development (featuring embedded videos from the Harvard Center for the Developing Child). Additionally, it provides tangible strategies that are developmentally appropriate. This blog could serve as an excellent resource for caregivers and as professional development for staff who are new to the...

Knock! Knock! - Okay, I won’t go there, nor will I make your eyes roll (as my daughters often do) with a “Dad Joke.” Instead, I’d like to highlight the benefits of laughter and how we can use it in our early learning settings. Beyond lightening our day or evoking a happy memory, research shows that regular laughter can support our “body, mind, and spirit.” It strengthens the immune system, distracts us from pain, and helps mitigate stress. Laughter calms our nervous system, “relaxes” our...