Happy Summer! It’s almost here… As you’re making your plans for the coming summer months, you may be thinking about what you want to read. We’ve “got you” at ATN with the recommendation of some great reads that will help you in your trauma-sensitive, attachment-focused journey.
Here are Must Reads that I recommend for parents, teachers, counselors…all of us! Grab these before you head out for vacation, or to hang out on the beach or poolside!
The Way of Play: Using Little Moments of Big Connection to Raise Calm and Confident Kids – Georgie Wisen-Vincent, LMFT & Tina Payne Bryson, PhD. This book zeroes in on the importance of play for children’s development – but not just for social skills. Playing, especially playing with parents, is key in cultivating a child’s emotional development and resilience. This book is packed with stories, research and techniques to make the most impact as the parent/caregiver in only a few minutes each day.
Reducing Stress in Schools: Restoring Connection and Community – Mathew Portell, Ingrid L. Cockhren, Tyisha Noise, Julie Kurtz & Julie Nicholson. You won’t be surprised that the stress levels of students and teachers are unprecedented in this post-Covid era. These veteran educators and child development experts not only share this research, but real-world case studies and strategies for implementing trauma-responsive practices in schools that reduce stress and strengthen equity, healing and safety. School leaders do NOT want to miss this one!
Hello Anxiety – Jessica Sinarski. This book teaches kids what is going on in their brains when they feel anxiety, and gives them coping strategies to try. As with Jessica’s many other books, she uses clear, simple language and validates children while giving them tools. Teachers, parents and therapists need this book to support children experiencing anxiety!
Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout – Kristin Neff, PhD & Christopher Germer, PhD. If you attended our Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools conference this year, you probably heard Dr. Neff speak about her work in compassion and the importance of self-compassion. This workbook is an amazing gift to people who are experiencing burnout- which includes educators, healthcare workers, caregivers – so many of us. Full of actionable strategies, this book will help you recharge and de-stress.
7-1/2 Lessons About the Brain – Lisa Feldman Barrett. This book has been out for a few years, but we don’t want you to overlook it. It is perhaps the most readable book on our brains, their complexity and challenging many of the popular theories about neuroscience. If you’re a “brain geek” and you haven’t read this book, what are you waiting for?
Other books we may have mentioned before, but we don’t want you to miss:
Body and Brain Brilliance: A Manual to Cultivate Awareness and Practices for our Nervous Systems– Lori Desautels. Dr. Lori’s latest is perhaps her most amazing. Corralling the applied educational neuroscience into a manual form, this book provides mini-activities centered on adults’ nervous systems and the bi-directional communications between the children and adults. This summer is a great time to digest these ideas and be ready for a more co-regulated school year.
I Will Die on this Hill – Meghan Ashburn and Jules Edwards. Autistic advocate meets parent of autistic children = tension. Yet these two authors are able to resolve those differences and are now co-conspirators in the pursuit of disability justice. Now, more than ever, understanding these perspectives in the world of neurodiversity are so important. And this book will definitely expand your thinking.
Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative Educator – Joe Brummer and Marg Thorsborne. If you’re an educator and you haven’t read this yet, this should go to the top of your list. Joe Brummer is a veteran at bringing restorative practices into schools in a trauma-informed way. This time he teamed up with Marg Thorsborne, an expert and pioneer in restorative practices. She’s an amazing force for this work throughout Australia and around the world as the founding director of Restorative Practices International. Ginger and I interviewed them back in June of last year, right before the book launched and here’s the link to our delightful podcast. I was blown away by the insightful ways that Joe and Marg look at this work. They sparked all kinds of new ideas in my own brain…this is a MUST read for every educator…especially those in leadership!
30- Minute Groups: Managing Big Emotions: Identifying Triggers, Developing Coping Strategies, and Communicating Effectively – Ginger Healy, LCSW. This might not be a beach read, but it is a fabulous workbook to have as you begin planning for next fall. This will equip you with social-emotional lessons for groups or classroom that are rooted in regulation and co-regulation strategies. Every school counselor needs this one in their library!
