Healthychild

12/18/2025

❄️ December HealthyCHILD Family Newsletter ❄️
Big feelings are part of growing—and children don’t have to manage them alone.

This month’s newsletter shares simple, playful ways families can support emotional regulation and calming at home, including:
💨 Hot Cocoa Breaths
⛄ Melting Snowman Moves
❄️ My Anger Snowball
💞 Everyday calming strategies you can use all winter long

Emotional regulation isn’t about avoiding big feelings—it’s about learning healthy ways to cope with them, together. 💙

📬 Read the December Family Newsletter and contact HealthyCHILD if you’d like support.

12/16/2025

✨ December HealthyCHILD School Newsletter ✨
This month we’re focusing on Emotional Regulation & Calming—an essential skill that begins with co-regulation and grows as children learn to manage their own emotions.

Young children “borrow our calm” as we support them through big feelings. This newsletter includes:
✔️ Practical co- and self-regulation strategies
✔️ Classroom ideas to promote calming
✔️ A fun Dragon Breathing activity
✔️ Book recommendations to support social-emotional learning

When we connect over correct, acknowledge emotions, and start fresh, we help children build lifelong coping skills. 💛

📖 Read the December School Newsletter here and reach out to your HealthyCHILD DHC for support.

12/16/2025

FREE Webinar: Off to Kindergarten! A Successful Transition to Kindergarten for Students with Disabilities https://www.achieva.info/events/transition-to-kindergarten

Starting kindergarten is a big and exciting step! For families of children with disabilities, it can also raise new questions about supports, services, and what to expect. Achieva is proud to host Jane Stadnik from the PEAL Center for an informative and empowering session to help families and professionals navigate this transition with confidence.

What You’ll Learn:
✨ Key differences between early intervention and school-age systems
✨ Common terms and acronyms you’ll encounter along the way
✨ Who’s on your child’s IEP team—and how each member supports your child
✨ Options for adopting an IFSP and understanding preschool evaluations
✨ How to use the FAB Toolkit to guide a smooth transition

👉 Join us—register for free! https://www.achieva.info/events/transition-to-kindergarten

10/17/2025

💙 It’s World Trauma Day!

At HealthyCHILD, we’re honoring the courage it takes to heal — and raising awareness about the lasting impact of trauma on children, families, and communities.

Trauma can shape how we think, feel, and connect — but healing happens when we come together with understanding, compassion, and hope. 💫

Here are 3 small ways you can make a big difference today:
🧠 Learn how trauma affects the brain — awareness opens the door to change.
🤝 Listen with empathy — every story deserves to be heard.
📣 Share facts and hope — help break the stigma around trauma and mental health.

Together, we can build a world where every child has the chance to heal, grow, and thrive. 💙

If you’d like to learn more or get involved, reach out to the HealthyCHILD team — we’d love to connect and share how you can help make a difference.

09/24/2025

🌟 We’re headed to Portland! 🌟

We’re honored to share that we’re presenting two sessions at the 2025 Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Conference, taking place October 7–10, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.

📅 Our sessions

1️⃣ Trauma-Sensitive Schools Professional Learning Series for Early Childhood — Highlighting practical tools and strategies to help educators respond to trauma in early learning settings.
Presented by Laura Campbell, M.Ed, NCSP, Dr. Denise Esposto, Madeline Rushford, Dr. Stefano Bagnato , and Dr. Tracy Larson

2️⃣ Leading Change: SEL, Trauma Practices, & Networked Learning — Featuring our leadership model and real-world stories of advancing SEL and trauma-sensitive practices through networked improvement.
Presented by Dr. Karl Jancart, Cecelia Midberry, M.Ed, NBCT, Dr. Stefano Bagnato, and Dr. Tracy Larson

We can’t wait to share and learn alongside early childhood leaders from across the country!

🔗 Register here: https://web.cvent.com/event/35c4112d-88ee-48dd-97d4-fa5bc444d228/summary

09/12/2025

We’re so grateful that Dr. Denise Esposto is part of our HealthyCHILD team. For 25 years, she’s been preparing Child Life Specialists to support children and families with compassion and skill. This story celebrates her incredible impact. 💙💛

The Pitt Education course, led by Adjunct Assistant Professor Denise Esposto, has helped produce nearly 100 Certified Child Life Specialists, and counting.

05/07/2025

Please join us in celebrating two of HealthyCHILD's 2025 Interns, Charlotte Walker and Madeline Rushford. They presented their final projects at the annual showcase event held April 16th for Applied Developmental Psychology students at both the bachelors and master's level. Each poster encompassed the work that HealthyCHILD provides to our partners and communities we serve.

Congratulations again we are so proud and wish you the best on your next endeavor.

05/05/2025

Kindergarten Transition. This year flew and before you know it the summer will to, Healthy Child would like to give you some support around your child transitioning to Kindergarten 🎉.

We have listed some books that will be great for preparation into this new journey. Congratulations parents, caregivers, providers and educators!

04/16/2025

every month is a month we should be kind to unique minds; however, in April we like to shine an extra bright light for those are seen as different.

01/08/2025

Hello everyone and happy new year,

Help us help you by completing this survey regarding section 504's in the schools. You can complete this in just a minute, which in turn can make a huge impact in the long run. We appreciate your help with this, and hope all is well with you and your families. ❤️

01/07/2025

🎬 Exciting news for families and individuals with sensory sensitivities! 🎬

The Lindsay Theater & Cultural Center offers Sensory-Friendly Screenings, providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy the magic of movies. With softer lighting, lower volume, and a judgment-free atmosphere, these screenings are perfect for kids and adults who need a little extra comfort in their movie experience.

Whether you’re part of the neurodivergent community or simply looking for a more relaxed movie outing, this is a great opportunity to have fun, connect, and feel right at home! 🧩💙

Check out their upcoming showtimes: thelindsaytheater.org/sensory-friendly-screenings

A sensory friendly screening offers the option for families, children and adults impacted by autism and other special needs, to watch films together by lowering film volume, keeping on dim house lights and having a door open to restrooms and the lobby throughout the film. Trailers are eliminated to....

12/11/2024

during this holiday season. Please fill your cup and pour from the overflow.