Our Place Family Resource and Early Years Centre in Kitchener-Waterloo recently embarked upon a multi-year project to explore self-regulation (how we respond to stress in ways that either enable or restrict healthy development) in the early years. The project was specifically interested in understanding the barriers and opportunities faced by early learning professionals, parents, and other caregivers in fostering self-regulation-informed environments, programs, and practices as well as prototyping interventions, resources, and supports for these stakeholder groups.

With funding support from Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, Our Place partnered with renowned neuroscientific advisor Dr. Jean Clinton and the highly regarded Mehrit Centre. Unless supported the project by facilitating a design lab with Our Place’s Early Learning team during the first year of the project.

During the lab, the team was interested in understanding what made implementing “head knowledge” about self-regulation a challenge for professionals, parents, and caregivers.

The lab provided structure and support for the team to conduct iterative and exploratory rounds of in-situ and ethographic research, and synthesize learnings through a structured reflection process.

A series of evolving, interconnected problem statements emerged and served as a foundation for generating solution ideas. The team then moved into developing and testing prototypes to extend their learning and hone in on specific interventions.

In the spring of 2021, Our Place launched a children’s book series and a suite of parent workshops aimed at increasing awareness and practice of self-regulation best practices.