Find Part 1 HERE

In early childhood spaces, there is much research on the field of attunement, regulation and co-regulation. When an adult is able to regulate their own nervous system, they can help little ones calm their minds and bodies, and create an experience where children can be aware of their own emotions, listen and learn from them, and choose from an array of strategies to move from dysregulation to a regulated state. Some say that a dysregulated adult simply cannot help to regulate a child.  

I am continually impressed with the array of strategies I see in elementary schoolers for being able to move from an overwhelming feeling into a place of more equilibrium.  To be able to have feelings and body awareness, to then find language to describe that feeling, choose some preferred strategies, then later reflect on why and how they feel the way they do. This allows them to better cope with the natural ups and downs of the day and the body’s various states. This is a far from easy or clean process with linear outcomes, but it is an important process. I am still learning so much about my own regulation system (while simultaneously trying to be a leader for my children and students as I work to rewire and reframe my own responses!)  

When kids are in environments with teachers modeling rich language around feelings, behaviors and choices, normalizing emotions, they will develop more social and emotional knowledge than without. It moves us away from how so many were raised to believe that certain feelings are acceptable, while others are not. To truncate, to push down, to punish ourselves and others for having completely acceptable, human emotions. 

Many times, children are leading us.  

I can’t imagine another environment so ripe as to support the development of attuned leaders. Amazing brains, full of potential, growing, learning, and developing their spindle cells and oscillators to connect with others? As those working with children, we are truly building the brain-leaders for tomorrow’s world. In our digital age, it is more crucial than ever that we show little ones how to read faces and bodies, hear tones in voice, scan and encode humans. And know that someone is deeply attuned to them. To their magic.  

We now know conclusively that we are creating future leaders who can positively impact others. 

So, as Brene Brown speaks to boardrooms and with C-Suite executives about the importance of having an emotional landscape, we know that within the interactions at our sensory tables and our play areas, our centers and stations and playgrounds and parks, this is where leadership begins.  

Brain-based, connected and attuned, empathetic leadership.