This session explores the need for innovative pedagogies in trauma-aware education, specifically addressing the complex needs of trauma-impacted children. Attendees will gain insights into the transformative power of play pedagogy and its crucial role in enhancing social, emotional, and cognitive development within primary school settings. The discussion will focus on debunking the misconception that play-based learning lacks structure, instead revealing its effectiveness in creating a stable and nurturing environment essential for children affected by trauma.

Participants will learn how structured play, when thoughtfully designed and facilitated, can provide a predictable and safe learning space. This is key for children seeking a sense of control and predictability in their lives. An important emphasis will be placed on the relevance and effectiveness of play pedagogy beyond the realm of younger children. Attendees will explore how play serves as a therapeutic medium for older children, especially those who have experienced early traumatic events. This aspect of play as a versatile and age-inclusive tool highlights its critical role in addressing the needs of children across various developmental stages, making it a valuable component in trauma-informed educational practices.

Moreover, the session will highlight how play pedagogy aids in the development of executive function skills like working memory, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control, which are often compromised in trauma-experienced children. Attendees will see how play-based learning serves as a non-threatening, engaging method to enhance these skills.

A key focus will be on the empowerment and engagement aspects of play pedagogy. For trauma-impacted children, the autonomy and choice offered in play are profoundly healing, helping them to navigate their learning, make decisions, and engage creatively. This fosters a sense of achievement and self-efficacy.

Attendees will also discover the importance of the relationships formed in play-centric primary school classrooms. These relationships between children and educators are crucial for providing trauma-impacted children with a sense of security and belonging.

The session aims to provide educators and policymakers with practical strategies to integrate play pedagogy in trauma-aware schooling effectively. By challenging existing misconceptions, this session showcases play as a structured, predictable, and deeply therapeutic approach to support the holistic development of trauma-impacted children.

Combine the intrinsic joy of LEGO with the power of safety and connection throughout this hands on workshop. Participants will explore how to therapeutically build alongside learners who might otherwise find connection and co-regulation with others difficult, scary or overwhelming due to developmental trauma or neurodivergent sensory processing differences.

Not all learners feel safe in relationship with others. Some take time to establish trust, some have non neuro-normative social drives which are not honoured in typical settings. Some are stuck in survival responses and just need a place to rest in psychological safety with reduced demands on language and social expectations.

However, a calm body is not a safe feeling for some and silence is not quiet for everyone. Sometimes people have a drive to be busy, to be occupied, in order to be able to rest or feel safe within themselves or alongside others. This is where occupational therapy and sensory modulation play a key role. LEGO is a great tool for sensory modulation, creating safe predictable input through all 8 sensory systems, including the tactile system which is often set to over-responsivity as a threat response following trauma. Processing the controlled and predictable sensations of LEGO, while creating carefully designed builds which have meaningful reflective challenges, allows integration of sensory, motor, emotional and cognitive brain processes.

Drawing from polyvagal theory & sensory integration with an occupational science lens, this workshop builds knowledge and practical skills around using LEGO therapeutically to support co-regulation and relationship building through a series of LEGO build challenges. These can be applied in classrooms, clinics, family therapy, secure settings, or staff meetings… just like LEGO itself, the possibilities for application are endless.

The action research inquiry conducted within the Waihi Kahui Ako (Community of Learning) in New Zealand, has focused on the development and implementation of Calming Kete (kits) across eight educational settings. These kits were designed to incorporate items targeting the five sensory systems of the human body: Visual, Auditory, Somatosensory, Olfactory, and Vestibular. The overarching goal was to provide support for students in learning how to self-regulate their emotions.

Throughout the process, students engaged in both self-discovery and direct teaching to understand the connection between their sensory systems and emotions. By doing so, they embarked on a journey of creating personalised strategies and actions to manage their emotions effectively.

In addition to supporting students' emotional regulation, the research also aimed to identify the most effective ways to introduce and implement the Calming Kete across various educational contexts and age groups. Through teacher discovery, valuable insights were gained, allowing for the refinement of strategies tailored to different settings and student demographics.

The research presentation includes perspectives from both students and teachers, providing a comprehensive view of the impact and effectiveness of the Calming Kete. As a culmination of this inquiry, a resource has been developed to assist schools in setting up their own Calming Kete, ensuring relevance and applicability to their specific context.

Overall, this action research inquiry not only enhances students' ability to self-regulate but also contributes to the broader understanding of effective strategies for supporting emotional well-being in educational settings. The Calming Kete serves as a tangible tool for empowering students and promoting a positive learning environment.