Susan Hopkins EdD

03/23/2026

The SRSS 2026 program is live. And wow… this group of presenters.
These are people in it every day. In early years settings and schools, working alongside children and youth, trying to understand what we are seeing right now and what actually helps. You’ll also hear from clinicians and others supporting this work from different angles.

This year we’re focusing on co-regulation and the five domains of stress. You’ll see it in real classrooms, real moments, real challenges. Not just talked about, but worked through.

There are panels, hands-on workshops, learning centres, and space to pause and think. Sessions you can attend live, and everything available after so you don’t miss what you couldn’t get to.

And… Dr. Stuart Shanker’s ONLY talk of the year.
This is our 12th year, and there’s something about this one.

Who’s thinking of coming?✨

The program more info on how to register is available below
https://self-reg.ca/srss/

Stuart Shanker & Co. The MEHRIT Centre, Ltd.

03/23/2026

It’s hard to believe April is just around the corner.

I find myself thinking about the extraordinary difference early years educators make - so much of it happening in small, everyday moments that truly matter. When we bring a Self-Reg lens to this work, it can open up such a different way of understanding and supporting children.

I’m really looking forward to this next cohort beginning on April 9, and hope you’ll consider joining us.

Spring is a time to grow — and so are the children in our care. 🌱

Every young child carries incredible potential. But growth happens best when adults understand stress, energy, and self-regulation — in themselves and in the children they support. That’s why investing in early childhood educators is one of the most powerful ways to impact the future.

Our Self-Reg in Early Childhood Development Program helps educators and leaders see the world through a Self-Reg lens, understand stress in new ways, and respond thoughtfully to behaviour, learning, and temperament. It’s 100% online, flexible, and designed to equip you with practical strategies for real classrooms and real moments.

Join the next cohort starting April 9 and deepen your ability to create calm, connected, and thriving early learning environments. 🌈 Link in Stories or at self-reg.ca.

03/23/2026

If we want to be that steady presence for others, we have to take stock of what’s weighing on our nervous systems.

03/20/2026

Which TMC courses has everyone taken in the past? Any favourites?

Are you a Self-Regger who would like to dive in deeper? Our Level 2 Program is just what you’re looking for. Watch this video and find out more! ...

03/20/2026

One of the most meaningful parts of the Self-Reg Foundations Certificate Program is hearing how learners begin to see their work differently.

In this reflection, a participant shares how six weeks of exploring Self-Reg helped them shift from interpreting behaviour as “misbehaviour” to recognizing it as a signal of stress. That change in perspective opened the door to new responses, deeper understanding, and stronger connections with their students.

We’re grateful to this learner for sharing their experience with the community.

You can read the full reflection here:
https://self-reg.ca/what-six-weeks-taught-me-about-self-regulation/

A question for reflection:
In moments when behaviour feels challenging, how might our response change if we paused to ask, “What stress might be at play here?”

03/19/2026

I may need to start putting more birdseed out in the morning.

03/18/2026

In early childhood work, many of our most important insights emerge when we slow down and reflect on what we’re seeing in the children around us.

Our Self-Reg in Early Childhood Development – Level 1 Certificate Program, beginning April 9, 2026, invites educators and professionals to explore early development through the lens of .

In this facilitated online program, participants reflect on:

⭐ how stress shapes behaviour, learning, and development
⭐ what it means to understand energy and tension in young children
⭐ how environments and relationships influence wellbeing

Rather than focusing on quick solutions, the learning encourages deeper understanding of what behaviour may be communicating.

For many participants, this perspective quietly changes how they see their work—and the children they support.

Learn more here:
👉

One of the best ways to invest in our children’s future is to invest in our early childhood educators. Do so today with our Self-Reg ECD Program.

03/16/2026

Co-regulation, in all its many forms, isn’t just supportive - it’s essential.

03/13/2026

What if behaviour is a signal of stress?

In this learner reflection, Alex Kronstein shares what he discovered while taking the Self-Reg Foundations 1 course - how understanding the brain and learning to distinguish stress behaviour from misbehaviour can change how we see others.

When we begin to look for the signs of stress, our response often changes too.

Thank you, Alex, for sharing your reflections with our community.

Read the full blog:
https://self-reg.ca/reading-the-signs-what-self-reg-taught-me-about-stress/

When you notice challenging behaviour, what signs of stress might be there beneath the surface?

03/11/2026

There is something about spring that invites us to pause and notice.

The light shifts. The ground softens. What felt dormant begins to stir again.

In Shanker Self-Reg®, we often talk about renewal in a different way - about easing stress, restoring energy, and creating the conditions for growth. Not pushing. Not fixing. But understanding.

This April, we’re beginning several online programs for those who feel called to go deeper:

⭐ Reframing Bullying – April 2
⭐ Self-Reg in Early Childhood Development – April 9
⭐ Self-Reg Facilitator’s Program – April 16
⭐ Self-Reg Foundations Certificate Program – April 30

If this spring feels like the right time for a new beginning in your learning, we would be honoured to welcome you.

Learn more:
https://self-reg.ca/online/