resource links

Playing with Rainbows: A National Play Program for At-Risk Refugee Children is now available, free of charge!

The Playing with Rainbows manual, developed by YWCA of Canada, outlines a play-based group model designed to facilitate healing in school-age children and youth who have been traumatized by experiences of war and migration. You can download the manual, free of charge.

Video – Early Childhood Trauma: A Quick Overview

Trauma in early childhood can present in lots of different, complex ways. As early childhood educators though, you're in an incredibly important position to be able to help children with the healing process. This video gives a quick overview of childhood trauma, and three things you can do to help!

Infographic: Understanding Stress Behaviour

Do you know the difference between misbehaviour and stress behaviour?  The Mehrit Centre has developed this infographic to explain what stress behaviour is, signs to watch for and tips for helping children.


Resource Parent Workshop: Facilitator Guide

This workshop introduces participants to the Cognitive Triangle and the impact of trauma on children’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours.  It also introduces techniques for helping traumatized children understand and control their emotions and behavioural reactions.


National Centre for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

The National Centre for PTSD has information about childhood trauma, infant attachment and PTSD in preschool children.


National Child Traumatic Stress Network

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has a Child Trauma Toolkit for educators and a useful handbook for parents called Caring for Children who have Experienced Trauma


20 Strategies for Building Resilience in Children (Backed by Science)

This article succinctly describes 20 practical and powerful strategies for promoting resilience in your program.


Harvard Centre on the Developing Child – Resilience Series

These three short videos provide an overview of why resilience matters, how it develops and how to strengthen children’s capacity for resilience.


RIRO Resiliency Guidebook

This guidebook is for child-serving professionals and parents. It aims to increase awareness of the importance of promoting resilience through caring relationships and adult modelling of resilient thinking and coping strategies.


30 Games and Activities for Self-Regulation

These 30 games and activities support planning and problem solving, memory, attention, motor control and sequencing. They’re a great way to introduce self-regulation strategies to kids!