| Description |
This workshop will examine the use of teddy bears as simple transitional objects in assisting children exposed to trauma. Participants will have opportunities to develop their own bears, and reflect on their own personal histories of secure attachments and use of transitional objects. Participants will explore the foundations of this theory, developed by Lesley Koplow at Bank Street School of Education, and how it has been used with child care providers in Cook County, as well as the current research on the power of supportive attachments and transitional objects as tools to build and support those relationships. Participants will engage in small and large group discussions to discover how this tool might be useful in various program settings and with children of various ages and backgrounds. Finally, participants will engage in hands-on projects to create their teddy bear and develop a plan to engage teddy bears in their own programs in ways that are meaningful for their staff and clients.
Participants will be able to:
understand the attachment needs of children exposed to trauma
discuss the role of transitional objects in supporting the resiliency of traumatized children
explore the use of teddy bears to support safety of children, build resiliency, and sustain appropriate attachment to caregivers
consider a child’s perspective and developmental needs
This workshop is appropriate for:
Early Intervention providers
Educators
Caregivers
Child Care Providers
Therapists
Counselors
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