Anna Housley Juster

In this insightful discussion, Anna Housley Juster, a licensed mental health clinician and author, dives into the importance of play in child development. She reveals how intentional play can enhance emotional regulation and strengthen parent-child relationships. Anna shares practical strategies for managing stress responses in kids and emphasizes the need for parents to validate their children's emotions. With a rich background in early childhood education, she discusses the transformative power of play for fostering resilience and emotional intelligence.

In this engaging conversation, Anna Housley Jester, a mental health clinician and former Sesame Street Director of Content, shares her expertise in early childhood education and emotional regulation. She discusses her children's book, which personifies the amygdala in a lovable way, helping kids understand their emotions. Anna emphasizes the importance of honest communication, therapeutic play, and intrinsic motivation in classrooms. She also touches on neuroscience and strategies to calm anxiety, making complex topics accessible for both children and caregivers.

Join Anna Housley Juster, a former Sesame Street content director and author of How to Train Your Amygdala, as she delves into the fascinating world of the brain's alarm system. Anna explains the role of the amygdala in threat detection and offers playful strategies for managing anxiety in children. Discover how to integrate mindfulness and breathing exercises into daily routines, and learn the power of short, engaging play sessions. Plus, she shares tips on using stuffed animals for calming practices, turning learning about emotions into a fun game!