'Life is Good' visits Tri-County Early Education

Representatives from the Life is Good Kids Foundation visited the Tri-County Regional Early Education program on Friday, May 27, to share their tips for creating an "o'playsis" in the classroom.

The term "o'playsis" is used by the Life is Good team to describe an "oasis of play". They believe teachers, whom they often call "Playmakers", can tap into the power of play to build positive, impactful relationships with children who have experienced trauma.

In addition to discussing "o'playsis", the team asked Tri-County students to consider the most important traits they feel children must possess to become resilient individuals. Those traits were then broken down into four groups: internal control, social connection, joyfulness, and active engagement. The Life is Good presenters explained why possessing these four abilities is invaluable to people of all ages. They then asked the students to closely consider these abilities and how they can be cultivated in the classroom.

The teachers in the Early Education program said they hope their students will consider these four abilities when assessing the needs of each child in the Tri-County Children's Center. Students in the Early Education program are responsible for creating and implementing curriculum for the center's preschool programs under the direction of their teachers.

In addition to applying this new knowledge to their lesson plans, Vocational Director Jean George said she also hopes the students will apply it to better understanding and helping their peers.

The Life is Good Kids Foundation provides professional development opportunities to educators so that they may better assist children who have experienced early childhood trauma.