💚Meet me at Algonquin College's Bramburger Speaker

💚Meet me at Algonquin College's Bramburger Speaker Series TONIGHT!💚

Parents & Caregivers, this one's for you: Raising Resilient Children in Today's World

Registration closing soon...and you can attend in-person OR virtually as it will be live-streamed!

Secure your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/raising-resilient-children-in-todays-world-tickets-1982288252525?aff=oddtdtcreator

🚗 🚃 ✈️ Looking forward to a fantastic couple of mo

🚗 🚃 ✈️ Looking forward to a fantastic couple of months! Hope to see you there!

For the last 8 months, Algonquin of Pikwakanagan F

For the last 8 months, Algonquin of Pikwakanagan First Nation’s Mindiwin Manido child care centre has welcomed me into their programs to reflect & grow together.

By way of a Pedagogical Partnership, we explored child & educator well-being, how to position ourselves as attuned educators, and inclusion & belonging. We also engaged in a two-part series to uncover our values, how those values manifest in our practice, and a vision for the future of the programs.

It has been a privilege to collaborate with this team as they are deeply invested in evolving their practices, do not shy away from deep conversations about their work together, and naturally weave good humour and joy throughout the whole process!

Next, we hope to continue building on this learning by focusing on PLAY…and the many ways we can enrich our environments, materials, and interactions by way of a thoughtful blend of theory, reflection, AND hands-on learning experiences with the team! Onward we go!

'Tis the season for ✨virtual✨ sessions! I love con

'Tis the season for ✨virtual✨ sessions! I love connecting with ECEs in ANY form, including virtually!
...That being said, I'm also so thrilled to see the upcoming in-person sessions in my calendar over the coming months! Spring is surely on it's way and I can't wait for the face-to-face connections...and green sprouts poking up through the dirt, of course!💚

Revisiting my values on an ongoing basis is import

Revisiting my values on an ongoing basis is important to help me remain anchored and aligned.
If you’ve ever wondered about the values that “live” under my practice, here they are…it is my hope that these are observed and felt by my audiences and clients with every encounter 💛

I’ll be totally transparent: Some values come more naturally to me, while others feel like “heavy lifting” because they require me to undo my conditioning or reflexive ways of being. Joy, for example, is something I’m learning to trust and I’ve found the best way for me to access my joy is through gratitude. Joy, for me, is not loud or rambunctious—it’s a deep appreciation for life and is rooted in the present moment.

One value that seems to come a little easier for me is Belonging. It is so important to me that people feel valued for who they are—and do not feel they need to shape-shift or hide. A sense of safety, in my opinion and experience, is a pre-requisite to making learning possible.

I also like to create reflection questions to go with my values, as this helps me both in-the-moment and when I’m stepping back from complex situations. It immediately shifts me into curiosity around how I’m doing this work and often reveals opportunities for me to proceed with intentionality.

Which specific Values drive your practice? 💭🤔And how do these Values “show up” in your work? Feel free to share in the comments!

Raising Resilient Children in Today’s World💪 March

Raising Resilient Children in Today’s World💪
March 12 @ 6:30 PM (in person & virtual)
Algonquin College, Pembroke
Register here➡️: https://www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke/event/the-bramburger-speaker-series-presents-mary-hewitt-raising-resilient-children-in-todays-world/

In June 2024, I was hired to begin a series of ses

In June 2024, I was hired to begin a series of sessions with the County of Renfrew’s Community Services Team, with the intention of deepening their Trauma-Informed practices when delivering services such as Housing, Ontario Works, and Child Care.

Together, we explored concepts like the role Childhood Trauma, ACEs and Trauma’s impact on the Lifespan, Toxic Stress, Hidden Neglect, the role of Attachment in relationships, the nuances of Moral Injury, Affective vs. Cognitive Empathy, Emotional Competence, AND an array of strategies and mindsets to coincide with these themes.

In every session, a takeaway I always carried home with me was just how crucial a role these frontline individuals play within the community. Many times, they are the arms that hold people up when life hits the hardest, providing them with essential services they need…while reminding them of their worth and agency. They are also the ones who are presented with heaps of broad deliverables and, by way of really “truly seeing” their community, they find ways to make those deliverables meaningful at a local level. No small task.

As such, this group made the very real investment these past couple of years in ensuring they are equipped with the tools and understandings to approach their work through a trauma-informed lens. Why? Because they recognize the importance of early experiences in the trajectory of one’s life and, when they are called on for support, they want to ensure they always lead with compassion.

Yet again, the @countyofrenfrew is exemplifying their aptitude to be forward-thinking in the face of local challenges. As a facilitator AND local community member, I want to thank them for the way they showed up to each session with an attitude of dedication, openness, and reflection on some very difficult topics—unafraid to face “the hard” in service of “the better” for their community💛
@countyofrenfrew

Life lately 🩷✨ Wishing everyone a wonderful Family

Life lately 🩷✨
Wishing everyone a wonderful Family Day.

“Professional development is much more than traini

“Professional development is much more than training.
It’s an ongoing commitment to personal and collective growth, an invitation to curiosity, and a renewal of openness.” ✨

Follow on Instagram

The Child
The Self
The Environment & Materials
The Culture

Home
ABOUT
Work With Me
Yellow Chair Chats
Blog
Resources
Contact

Unlocking Childhood

Home
ABOUT
Work With Me
Yellow Chair Chats
Blog
Resources
Contact

The Child · July 8, 2025

Listen in as Mary Discusses Trauma-Informed Care in ECE

join the club

You’ll Also Love

Buoyant Classrooms: 4 Ways Educators Can Promote Resiliency in Children

Come As You Are: Cultivating Belonging with Children

More than Measurable Outcomes: A Holistic Perspective of “Play”

Mary is a Guest on the Thriving Minds Podcast! Listen here:

💚Meet me at Algonquin College's Bramburger Speaker

💚Meet me at Algonquin College's Bramburger Speaker Series TONIGHT!💚

Parents & Caregivers, this one's for you: Raising Resilient Children in Today's World

Registration closing soon...and you can attend in-person OR virtually as it will be live-streamed!

Secure your spot here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/raising-resilient-children-in-todays-world-tickets-1982288252525?aff=oddtdtcreator

🚗 🚃 ✈️ Looking forward to a fantastic couple of mo

🚗 🚃 ✈️ Looking forward to a fantastic couple of months! Hope to see you there!

For the last 8 months, Algonquin of Pikwakanagan F

For the last 8 months, Algonquin of Pikwakanagan First Nation’s Mindiwin Manido child care centre has welcomed me into their programs to reflect & grow together.

By way of a Pedagogical Partnership, we explored child & educator well-being, how to position ourselves as attuned educators, and inclusion & belonging. We also engaged in a two-part series to uncover our values, how those values manifest in our practice, and a vision for the future of the programs.

It has been a privilege to collaborate with this team as they are deeply invested in evolving their practices, do not shy away from deep conversations about their work together, and naturally weave good humour and joy throughout the whole process!

Next, we hope to continue building on this learning by focusing on PLAY…and the many ways we can enrich our environments, materials, and interactions by way of a thoughtful blend of theory, reflection, AND hands-on learning experiences with the team! Onward we go!

'Tis the season for ✨virtual✨ sessions! I love con

'Tis the season for ✨virtual✨ sessions! I love connecting with ECEs in ANY form, including virtually!
...That being said, I'm also so thrilled to see the upcoming in-person sessions in my calendar over the coming months! Spring is surely on it's way and I can't wait for the face-to-face connections...and green sprouts poking up through the dirt, of course!💚

Revisiting my values on an ongoing basis is import

Revisiting my values on an ongoing basis is important to help me remain anchored and aligned.
If you’ve ever wondered about the values that “live” under my practice, here they are…it is my hope that these are observed and felt by my audiences and clients with every encounter 💛

I’ll be totally transparent: Some values come more naturally to me, while others feel like “heavy lifting” because they require me to undo my conditioning or reflexive ways of being. Joy, for example, is something I’m learning to trust and I’ve found the best way for me to access my joy is through gratitude. Joy, for me, is not loud or rambunctious—it’s a deep appreciation for life and is rooted in the present moment.

One value that seems to come a little easier for me is Belonging. It is so important to me that people feel valued for who they are—and do not feel they need to shape-shift or hide. A sense of safety, in my opinion and experience, is a pre-requisite to making learning possible.

I also like to create reflection questions to go with my values, as this helps me both in-the-moment and when I’m stepping back from complex situations. It immediately shifts me into curiosity around how I’m doing this work and often reveals opportunities for me to proceed with intentionality.

Which specific Values drive your practice? 💭🤔And how do these Values “show up” in your work? Feel free to share in the comments!

Raising Resilient Children in Today’s World💪 March

Raising Resilient Children in Today’s World💪
March 12 @ 6:30 PM (in person & virtual)
Algonquin College, Pembroke
Register here➡️: https://www.algonquincollege.com/pembroke/event/the-bramburger-speaker-series-presents-mary-hewitt-raising-resilient-children-in-todays-world/

In June 2024, I was hired to begin a series of ses

In June 2024, I was hired to begin a series of sessions with the County of Renfrew’s Community Services Team, with the intention of deepening their Trauma-Informed practices when delivering services such as Housing, Ontario Works, and Child Care.

Together, we explored concepts like the role Childhood Trauma, ACEs and Trauma’s impact on the Lifespan, Toxic Stress, Hidden Neglect, the role of Attachment in relationships, the nuances of Moral Injury, Affective vs. Cognitive Empathy, Emotional Competence, AND an array of strategies and mindsets to coincide with these themes.

In every session, a takeaway I always carried home with me was just how crucial a role these frontline individuals play within the community. Many times, they are the arms that hold people up when life hits the hardest, providing them with essential services they need…while reminding them of their worth and agency. They are also the ones who are presented with heaps of broad deliverables and, by way of really “truly seeing” their community, they find ways to make those deliverables meaningful at a local level. No small task.

As such, this group made the very real investment these past couple of years in ensuring they are equipped with the tools and understandings to approach their work through a trauma-informed lens. Why? Because they recognize the importance of early experiences in the trajectory of one’s life and, when they are called on for support, they want to ensure they always lead with compassion.

Yet again, the @countyofrenfrew is exemplifying their aptitude to be forward-thinking in the face of local challenges. As a facilitator AND local community member, I want to thank them for the way they showed up to each session with an attitude of dedication, openness, and reflection on some very difficult topics—unafraid to face “the hard” in service of “the better” for their community💛
@countyofrenfrew

Life lately 🩷✨ Wishing everyone a wonderful Family

Life lately 🩷✨
Wishing everyone a wonderful Family Day.

“Professional development is much more than traini

“Professional development is much more than training.
It’s an ongoing commitment to personal and collective growth, an invitation to curiosity, and a renewal of openness.” ✨

Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2026 Unlocking Childhood · Theme by 17th Avenue