March 2024
Introduced to parents in June 2023 at one of Erin Mills Connects’ first in-person meetings since 2020, caregivers learned the simple acronym that rules much of what brings grace into our lives: empathy and emotion regulation (Read guest blogger Chanel Tsang’s recount below).
UTM’s Centre for Child Development, Mental Health, and Policy (CCDMP) unveiled its elementary school curriculum last November to children in Grades 4 to 8 who thoughtfully agreed to be their schools’ mental health ambassadors. They were members of a dozen schools who met in the big white dome at Churchill Meadows Community Centre & Mattamy Sports Park to play Human Foosball, reflect on emotions, and yes, absorb lots of information as part of a Beautiful Mind Day mental health field trip.
In February, CCDMP again reminded caregivers about the magic of empathy and emotion regulation. Those who completed the two-part online series earned Certificates of Participation from CCDMP.
It you want to know more about what’s behind the belief in The 3Es, put your feet up to relax (exercising empathy for self) with these brief recordings. Enjoy some of the most soothing education you’ll ever receive.
Workshop #1: Emotion Regulation
The Centre for Child Development, Mental Health, and Policy (CCDMP) of the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) shares tips created through more than 20 years of research to help children regulate their emotions. Join the CCDMP team for a fun, interactive workshop. The second 3Es Workshop delves into Empathy for self and Empathy for others. This is an abbreviated recording of a free presentation hosted by Erin Mills Connects community collaborative.
Workshop #2: Empathy
Erin Mills Connects is excited to be working with the CCDMP and other organizations dedicated to supporting child and youth mental health and well-being. We are planning more in-person workshops and events similar to this one; sign up for news of upcoming events at erinmillsconnects.org/contact
Join the CCDMP’s new upcoming mailing list to receive news and updates about child development and mental health, events, participate in their research, job opportunities and more.
*Thank you to Our Guest Blog Contributor
Chanel Tsang is a volunteer with Erin Mills Connects. At UTM, Chanel is Manager, Operations and Community Partnerships at the CCDMP. She is also the lead for an arts-based knowledge translation project focused on children’s art workshops and new magazine for parents and educators. Chanel came to the CCDMP after working for more than fifteen years in the education and early years sector, specifically in Montessori schools and family supports (including EarlyON Child and Family Centres). She is also a part-time master’s student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), studying adult education and community development. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanel-t-11b0b1161
Empathy and Emotions: Supporting Children and Families as they Grow
June 2023
By Chanel Tsang*
Erin Mills Connects (EMC) held a free in-person workshop delivered by the University of Toronto Mississauga called The 3Es of Social-Emotional Development in early June 2023. This training was developed and delivered by the Centre for Child Development, Mental Health, and Policy (CCDMP) based on its 20+ years of research. This workshop was an introduction to the CCDMP’s training for educators and caregivers.
The workshop was held in the South Common Community Centre in west Mississauga and focused on children’s social-emotional development and ways to nurture “The 3Es” of emotion regulation, empathy for the self, and empathy for others.
Quick Summary of The 3Es of Social-Emotional Development:
The CCDMP training team spoke about the research behind The 3Es and guided participants through everyday strategies that could support children’s development and mental health (as well as their own!).
- Emotion regulation – We need emotions because they can help us make decisions, avoid danger, and connect with others. Other-guided and self-guided regulation was discussed, as well as the development of emotion regulation from birth to age 8. Strategies for supporting children’s emotion regulation were shared, including the L.O.V.E strategy.
- Empathy for the self – Empathy for the self includes self-reflection and healthy guilt (feeling sad about doing something wrong). Healthy guilt is different than shame. The development of empathy for the self over time was reviewed.
- Empathy for others – Empathy for others is feeling the same emotion as another, and often involves understanding another’s point-of-view, or being able to take the perspective of another. We engaged in a perspective taking activity that encourages children to think about another’s feelings and point-of-view.
KIDS' WELLNESS 