mental health - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Caring for Your Partnership and Your Child

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 04:23:24 +0000

Learn how to nurture your partnership while raising a child with extra needs. Discover the importance of co-regulation, repair, and finding time for each other.

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Before We Change the Child, Look at the Environment

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 04:41:36 +0000

When a child struggles, we often focus on the child. Learn why looking at the setting—noise, lighting, and expectations—is key to their success and growth.

The post Before We Change the Child, Look at the Environment first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Every Child Deserves To Be Known

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 16:34:04 +0000

Discover why understanding a child's unique identity beyond a diagnosis is crucial for their development and well-being through relationship-based support.

The post Every Child Deserves To Be Known first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

It Takes a Village to Support a Family

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 01:16:20 +0000

Explore why 'it takes a village' is more than just an old saying and how supporting families as a whole leads to stronger, more confident children.

The post It Takes a Village to Support a Family first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Rooted in Connection This Summer

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 19:10:44 +0000

Summer offers a unique opportunity for families to slow down and reconnect through nervous system regulation and emotionally safe parenting strategies.

The post Rooted in Connection This Summer first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Before Learning Comes Safety in the Body

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Mon, 11 May 2026 23:16:33 +0000

Understanding how the nervous system impacts behavior and why internal safety is the critical foundation for learning, connection, and emotional growth in children.

The post Before Learning Comes Safety in the Body first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Expression Beyond Words

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:53:26 +0000

For many children, emotions are not easily put into words. Discover how creative expression through art, music, and movement offers a natural pathway for processing feelings.

The post Expression Beyond Words first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Autism is a Family Diagnosis

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:36:51 +0000

Clinically, autism is diagnosed in an individual. But in lived experience, autism is a family diagnosis that shifts the emotional climate of a home.

The post Autism is a Family Diagnosis first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Preschool Transitions Through a Somatic Lens

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:44:15 +0000

As families look ahead, conversations about preschool often surface—how to choose one, prepare, and support children through this big transition. For many, preschool is a child’s first step into a wider world beyond home. While exciting, it can also stir big feelings for children and parents alike. From a nervous-system perspective, preschool is less about academics and more about emotional safety, regulation, and connection. As a somatic practitioner and parent, I see preschool transitions as an opportunity to gently support a child’s developing nervous system. Somatic approaches focus on the body as the foundation for emotional regulation and resilience. Young children experience emotions primarily through their bodies—tight bellies, wiggly limbs, shallow breathing—long before they have words. Supporting their bodies supports their minds. In my family, both children attended a nature-based preschool in Santa Cruz. Like many local programs, their days were spent outdoors—climbing, swinging, digging, observing insects, singing under the redwoods, grounding barefoot in the grass, cooking imaginary meals in the mud kitchen, and building dams after a rain. The natural environment itself became a regulating force. Fresh air, open space, and unstructured play offered a softness to the transition that supported their nervous systems. While nature-based programs aren’t the right fit for every family, Santa Cruz offers many options emphasizing movement, sensory exploration, and connection to nature. Separation anxiety is common when starting preschool. It is a healthy expression of attachment, not a problem. From a somatic lens, separation anxiety shows up as a stress response: children may cry, cling, freeze, or resist transitions. Rather than rushing to “fix” these behaviors, slowing down and offering regulation helps. A simple practice parents can use is co-regulation through breath and presence. Before drop-off, take a few slow breaths together. Place a gentle hand on your child’s chest, back, or belly and invite them to feel your warmth. You might say, “Let’s take three slow breaths together before we say goodbye.” This signals safety to the nervous system. Predictable routines also support children. Young children feel safer when they know what to expect. Creating a consistent goodbye ritual—special hug, repeating a phrase, waving from the same spot, or offering a small trinket they can keep in their pocket or cubby—can ease anxiety. Consistency and confidence are key; children sense when we are unsure, and our nervous systems communicate this. Emotional resilience in early childhood is about learning that feelings move through us and that support is available. When a child struggles after preschool—meltdowns, exhaustion, withdrawal—it often means their system is processing stimulation. Some children mask emotions during the day and release once back with a caregiver. Offering downtime, physical closeness, and unstructured play helps restore balance.Body-based tools at home support resilience. Stretching, shaking out arms and legs, or lying on the floor with a pillow on the belly can help children discharge stress. I used to have many impromptu dance parties with my kids—often involving questionable dance moves and loud music chosen by them. Turning these into playful moments—“Let’s shake like dogs after they’ve been in water” or “Let’s be starfish on the ground”—keeps the practices developmentally appropriate and engaging. Social skills also grow during preschool. From a somatic perspective, social learning begins with felt safety. Children who feel regulated are more available for connection, sharing, and cooperation. Rather than focusing solely on manners or problem-solving scripts, we can support social development by helping children notice their internal cues. Dr. Mona Delahooke, whose work has deeply influenced my own and many trauma-informed approaches, emphasizes that behavior is a form of communication. When a child hits, withdraws, or struggles socially, their body may be in a state of overwhelm. Supporting regulation—through movement, sensory input, and connection—often leads to more organic engagement. Parents can model this by naming body sensations and emotions in everyday moments. Part of building a child’s self-esteem is teaching self-advocacy—helping them notice needs, name feelings, and ask for support when something doesn’t feel right. For example, “It looks like your body feels tight right now. Do you want to stomp your feet or take a big breath?” This helps children respond rather than react. Choosing a preschool that aligns with your child’s temperament matters. Some thrive in busy, social environments; others prefer smaller, slower-paced settings. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and children are best supported when their individual nervous system needs are respected. It is also important to acknowledge parents. Starting preschool can activate emotions—grief, relief, anxiety, pride. Children often mirror what we haven’t processed ourselves. Offering yourself compassion and regulation is not selfish; it is foundational. When we tend to our own nervous systems, we show children that transitions can be met with care and resilience. Preschool is not just preparation for kindergarten; it is preparation for relationship, self-awareness, and emotional well-being. Approaching this milestone through a somatic lens shifts focus from readiness and performance to safety, connection, and trust. In doing so, we lay a foundation that supports children not only as students, but as their most authentic selves.

The post Preschool Transitions Through a Somatic Lens first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Autism and the Future of Education

Tovah Petra Kolodinski — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:51:43 +0000

Exploring the need for a nervous-system-informed approach to education for children on the autism spectrum, prioritizing safety, regulation, and connection.

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