A Fighting Chance: Supporting Young Children Experiencing Disruptive Change

by Jane Humphries, Kari Rains

Overview

Many children have to cope with complicated and disruptive situations. Often the classroom becomes the most stable environment. Learn to embrace disruptive change, address it with professionalism, and utilize strategies to affect the direction of children’s lives in a positive way and give them a fighting chance to succeed.

Dr. Jane Humphries has decades of experience in early childhood education, including being a child care director of a program directly impacted by the Oklahoma City bombing.

Kari Rains holds a masters degree in child development and has over a decade of clinical work in the early intervention program in Oklahoma.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605545066
Publisher:	Redleaf Press
Publication date:	07/04/2017
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Dr. Jane Humphries has decades of experience in early childhood education, including being a child care director of a program directly impacted by the Oklahoma City bombing. She holds a masters degree in early childhood education and a doctoral degree in occupational and adult education from Oklahoma State University. Humphries is also a consultant specializing in professional development programs and develops products for children requiring sensory stimulation to calm themselves.

Kari Rains holds a masters degree in child development from Oklahoma State University and has over a decade of clinical work in the early intervention program in Oklahoma. She has served as an adjunct professor, published two books, and contributed to numerous research articles in the field of child development.

Table of Contents

Introduction
CHAPTER 1 – Becoming the Bridge of Hope: Understanding Behavior of Children when Change is Wreaking Havoc in Their Lives
CHAPTER 2 – When Change Is Inevitable, The Pillars of a Supportive Classroom Environment
CHAPTER 3 – The Program Perspective: A Team Committed to the Child and Family
CHAPTER 4 – A Fighting Chance for Gracie & Quinton
CHAPTER 5 – A Fighting Chance for Taylor & Tate and Jasmine & Noah
CHAPTER 6 – A Fighting Chance for Amal and Siblings Greyson & Alice
CHAPTER 7 – A Fighting Chance for Abe & Zoe
CHAPTER 8 – Change Over Time and Care of Oneself
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
Classroom Resources
Online Information Resources
Organizational Resources
Children’s Books

Editorial Reviews

" A Fighting Chance should be required reading for every early childhood educator! The book provides a clear description of the different types of disruptive change that children experience along with concrete strategies and resources that classroom teachers, administrators, and support staff can use to nurture resiliency and healthy child development. Humphries and Rains draw on their repertoire of real-life stories gleaned from years of experience working with children experiencing trauma and toxic stress. Their book provides a wealth of ideas and practical advice that will help early childhood professionals address the challenges young children face."
—Paula Jorde Bloom, PhD, Professor Emerita, Founder, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, National Louis University

"

Dr. Jane Humphries and Kari Rains provided an excellent theoretical framework for working with children experiencing disruptive change. Their concrete and practical strategies for helping children to build essential life skills can be applied to many child care situations. As a child care trainer and technical assistance specialist, I know that I will frequently refer to this book for ideas and resources. "
—Dianne Juhnke, MS Child Development, Director of CDSA Child Care Resource and Referral

"Through snapshots of disruptive change, and its detrimental effects on our children, we're reminded of the critical role early childhood teachers play. A Fighting Chance provides effective early care and education tools for professionals to integrate into their interactions, creating a safe, consistent place for children to learn and grow. This valuable resource will resonate with policymakers, early childhood professionals, and parents. "
—Stacy Dykstra

“ A Fighting Chance is a great addition to the trauma focused resources available for early childhood educators . By explaining the impact of trauma and stress, as well as providing practical ideas to support children in the classroom, this book provides guidance teachers need to restore function and build residency in children who suffer from challenging life experiences.”
—LaDonna Atkins, EdD, professor of child development, University of Central Oklahoma

“ From the Introduction, the authors’ first-person account of their experience of the Oklahoma City bombing reveals their passion for guiding educators to help children and families deal with trauma and disruptive change . Infused with the basic tenets of high quality early education, their strategies guide the reader to apply the principles of best practice, current research, and social-emotional support. The case scenarios concretely illustrate the challenges for children and families brought on by disruptive change and the strategies adults can use in the classroom.”
—Deb Flis, Program Specialist with the Connecticut Accreditation Support Project

“ The practical strategies offered are what early childhood teachers and administrators need when confronting difficult situations with children and their families . It’s refreshing to see a book that tackles the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of the messy, beautiful and complex world of early childhood care and education. A must-have for all ECE professionals! ”
—Leslie E. Katch, PhD, professor of early childhood education, National Louis University

From the Publisher