Reach Out and Read Detoxifying Stress: Resiliency, Relationships, and Reading Together
Sep 2, 2021
Dr. Andrew Garner, a pediatrician and clinical professor, dives deep into the impacts of toxic stress and the importance of relational health. He discusses how recent advances in epigenetics and neuroscience have reshaped our understanding of childhood adversity. Garner emphasizes the need to focus on nurturing relationships to build resilience, urging a broader view of adversity that includes ongoing issues like poverty and racism. He also shares parents' strategies for recognizing and responding to different types of stress, advocating for cross-sector collaboration in promoting health and well-being.
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Biology Embeds Both Harm And Healing
- Advances in epigenetics and developmental neuroscience show adversity and positive experiences both biologically embed.
- Relational health has measurable molecular, cellular, and behavioral effects that inform practice and policy.
Adversity Isn't Destiny
- Adversity is not destiny; positive relationships can offset significant adversity.
- Preventing adversity alone doesn't make children thrive; safe, stable, nurturing relationships are also required.
Build Distress Tolerance Through Repair
- Teach children distress tolerance by normalizing emotions and repairing brief relational breaches.
- Use shared reading and attentive repair to build coping skills and emotional intelligence.
