1. Heart Skills Talk Series – Let’s Begin at the Beginning
With your host, Jamie Black MA, BI
Watch episode 1. Let’s Begin at the Beginning on Earth Guides (you are required to login, it’s free)
Jamie Black MA, BI shares stories of the beginning of a journey of discovery into how to boost engagement while decreasing behaviors through wildly crafted play.
When it comes to navigating behaviors, emotions and social skills with children and youth, we want to open a discussion and express ideas, concepts and approaches that we have learned along the way that may be new to you.
For the past 14 years I have studied games, activities and tools that increase engagement and decrease behaviors of children and youth ages 8 and up. In 2010 I created a game called Wild Craft Play which was meant to replicate video games, but in real life.
This came from a moment, as a manager at a Boys and Girls Club I called out to the children “Who wants to go outside?” and a few boys said “I just want to play on my DS”
In my research I found that the way we play Wild Craft Play decreases behaviors, sending them to a fully engaged state of flow, all with their own interest. Read these screen shots, or find them in my thesis here.
Overarching Themes:
Navigating Behaviors: Support workers for kids with complex behaviors look for ways to handle specific needs, like being flexible and creative in their approach. For example, kids with conditions like PDA or ODD might respond better to choices and incentives rather than being told what to do directly. By using tools that include their interests, caregivers can reduce pushback and make cooperation easier. Not to coddle people, to push their edges and engage them to find their own internal motivation to want to be ‘good.’
Supporting Emotional Intelligence: Many kids with ADHD, anxiety, or autism need help managing big feelings or impulsive actions. Support workers often use simple exercises that help kids recognize and handle their emotions, such as sensory tools, calming techniques, or mindfulness, to keep them calm and in control when things get tough. Help them practice doing it themselves.
Building Social Skills: Kids with these conditions often have trouble with social interactions, so support workers focus on teaching ways to improve social understanding and adaptability. This could include planned social activities or role-play to help kids learn social cues and handle different situations, especially important for those with autism or PDA.
Specific Topics of Interest for future Heart Skills Talks include
- Antecedence
- What do we do in those moments for self regulation
- What are best practices to transition
- How do we ensure everyone is safe
- How do we regulate ourselves after
- Where can we go to debrief
- Time in Nature
- A 30 second self regulation practice
- Quiet, unguided time
- Hands-off approach
- Intervening Like Jiminy Cricket
- The power of a good debrief
- Intervention
- Teachings of how to meet a family for the first time
- Teachings on what to do when there is an issue
- Taking a moment
- Personal care as a guide for those harder moments
- Identifying typical behaviors of ADHD, Autism, ODD, FASD, PDA, Anxiety, Depression and Trauma
- Scenario-based discussions of issues, and group brainstorming for solutions
- Other Topics may include suicidal talk, cutting, threats, avoidance, hygiene issues, oral fixations, stimming, and more.
A Reminder of How to Access Heart Skills Talk Series
These talks will occur Tuesdays weekly at 9am and last from 20 – 40 minutes, depending on the topic.
You can access for free in Earth Guides by clicking here.
You will be watching in presentation mode, so don’t worry about needing the video to work, yet you can offer notes and questions in the comment section, like Zoom.
All audio will be recorded to re-publish as a podcast.
IF you or someone you know is interested in being interviewed please reach out
IF you have ideas for the topics, please reach out.
Thank you for watching.