Early Years Fundamentals Webinar Series

In the first of our exciting new webinar series, we explore how intergenerational trauma manifests and its impacts on the parent-child relationship and on infant mental health.  In addition to covering the adverse impacts of trauma, the webinar will emphasise how cultural and community strengths can be borne out of intergenerational trauma and how practitioners can identify and build on these strengths in their everyday practice.

In this webinar, we will cover:

- What we mean by ‘intergenerational trauma’

- How intergenerational trauma impacts infant mental health and development.

- The factors that increase or decrease adverse family experiences.

- The implications for practice, including trauma integration and attachment work.

- How we can use community strengths to address intergenerational trauma.

Due to the growing need to address and prevent emotional and behavioural difficulties later in life, this webinar has been designed to provide an overview of the development of emotional regulation in infancy and early childhood up to age 5. The focus will be placed on understanding the dynamics of this process and how to support parents, carers, very young children, professionals and services, through the acknowledgement of the role that each play in emotional regulation.

The aims of the webinar are to:

- Learn about the development of emotional regulation in infancy and early childhood

- Identify the potential risks attached to emotional dysregulation

- Understand parental emotional distress and the role that parents and carers play in supporting children’s emotional regulation

- Discuss emotional regulation strategies, including how to support parents and infants to regulate their emotions

- Reflect on how to foster family and service delivery environments that promote trusting and warm relationships as a foundation for emotional regulation

Trauma-informed care for infants acknowledges the impact of adverse childhood events on very young children, with the insights of attachment theory and individual and family strengths to enhance service delivery to mitigate the effects of trauma.  The rationale is that all parties involved in the care of the child identify, understand and respond to the effects of traumatic stress on children. This includes systems involving early education, mental and physical health, first responders, faith-based communities etc.  There is growing evidence that through improved understanding, appropriate support and timely intervention, we can reduce the negative impact of traumatic events on children.  This webinar has therefore been created to expand awareness and support the sustainability of trauma-informed systems serving children aged 0-5.

We will provide an overview of trauma and attachment-informed practice, whilst discussing how to promote connection and safe environments.

TT   The aims of the webinar are to:

-Understand the meaning of attachment theory and trauma-informed practice

-Understand the impact of trauma and adverse childhood events on the child's development, behaviour, relationships and coping mechanisms

-Improve awareness of the spectrum of trauma-related signs and symptoms

-Understand your role in responding to infant and toddler traumatic stress

-Discuss specific strategies and interventions to mitigate the effects of trauma exposure

-Reflect on how to promote an emotionally safe environment of care for children up to 5

Toddlers (aged 2-5) undergo rapid changes in both physical and mental growth, which can be both exciting and challenging for early years practitioners, parents and carers alike.  In this webinar, we will explore changes in toddlers' social, emotional and cognitive abilities, drawing upon socio-ecological, psychosocial, attachment and mentalizing theories.  We will also discuss the difficulties that toddlers can experience in emotional expression and regulation, and ways that, through our practice, we can support toddlers to thrive.

The topics we will cover include:

• What is development?
• Ages and stages in socio-emotional development
• Difficulties in emotional expression and regulation
• Supporting toddlers' emotional wellbeing

In this webinar, we will learn more about personal, social and emotional development (PSED) for 2-4 year olds.  PSED makes up one of the three main areas within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework for early years settings. 

From a global pandemic to a crisis in the cost of living, where many children's PSED has been adversely impacted, it is now more important than ever to ensure that their PSED is prioritised and supported.  We will discuss the three main areas of PSED, as well as guidance for embedding PSED into your everyday practice.

We will cover the following content in this webinar:

• Personal, Social and Emotional development within The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework
• PSED domains:
• Emotions
• Sense of self
• Relationships

• Embedding PSED into your practice:

• Emotional containment
• Watchful waiting
• Having sensitive conversations with parents and carers
• Risk and safeguarding
• Self-care

Please get in touch with training@annafreud.org if you would like to purchase the on-demand recording of the session if it has already taken place. 

Please note the recordings are £20 per webinar and you will only have viewing access for up to one month once received. You will not be able to download or share this recording. 

This series is suitable for any professional working with children aged 0-5, such as those working in early years settings, perinatal mental health, infant mental health, CAMHS Under 5’s, social work and health visiting.

• To enhance understanding of infant mental health and early child development and various factors can have an impact
• To support the development of best practice with children aged 0-5
• To provide that meets workforce development needs and that is agile and accessible

There will be automatic subtitles available during the session. If you require any further support for the day please contact training@annafreud.org.

This event will take place on Zoom, a joining link will be sent to you closer to the event date. 

Registration will close at 1pm the day of the event. Please book your place before this time to secure your place.

The online platform Zoom will be used to deliver these webinars. Prior to booking on, please ensure you meet the system requirements so you're able to join. Before the webinar, please test your equipment is working by going to Zoom.us/test and follow the instructions.

A certificate of attendance will be sent to all attendees who attend the live webinar.