Creating "Felt Safety" in Anxious Children Using relationships to foster "felt safety" in anxious children in the Primary School Classroom

Target Audience: Primary School SNAs & Teachers

The session will begin with an introduction to interpersonal neurobiology and the impact that has on our sense of safety in the world. Regulation, coregulation and childhood development will be outlined.

The role that SNAs have in creating an environment of felt safety in the classroom will be discussed.

Next the benefits of using relationship as an anchor for anxious children in the classroom will be outlined.

Following this the perceived challenges will be named and discussed.

Next an abundance of practical, easily accessible ways to harness the power of relationship to support anxious children in the classroom will be presented. These will be playful, creative and child-centred.

Opportunity for questions and answers will be provided. Finally, a list of further resources will be given

Presenter Bio - Hayley Rice

Hayley Rice is a child and adolescent psychotherapist specialising in play therapy. Prior to this, she spent 10 years as a primary school teacher. She facilitates trainings across Ireland
and internationally on topics from esteem and confidence to trauma and grief. Hayley is passionate about empowering parents and professionals to become conscious in their approaches and to respond to behaviours and emotions in an informed and child-centred way.