In continuing with our CARE, Children and Residential Experiences: Creating Conditions for Change series, here is the next story.

CARE is based on six practice principles: developmentally focussed, family involved, relationship based, trauma informed, competence centered, and ecologically oriented and is designed to significantly influence the way professionals work with children.

We apply these principles to all of what we do at Ranch Ehrlo, including our Ehrlo Early Learning Centres. We can see these principles in action in our day-to-day work, as is illustrated by stories from our EELC staff.

Crafting with CARE
EELC staff member Amanda was teaching some of the children how to make friendship bracelets by braiding string together. One child was having trouble and getting quite frustrated, saying things like, “I’m not good at anything” and that he “couldn’t do anything right.”

Amanda recognized an opportunity to apply the developmentally focused and relationship-based CARE principles in this interaction.

“I calmly sat with him and reassured him of all the things he is awesome at and reminded him that it takes time and practice before anything will be easy.”

She worked on her braid next to him, being close to help him if he was stuck, while continually motivating him to keep trying!