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The First 1,000 Days: Laying the Emotional and Neurological Foundation for Life

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  The first 1,000 days of an infant’s life—from conception through roughly age two—represent one of the most critical windows of human development. From an infant mental health lens, this period is not only about physical growth and milestone achievement, but about the formation of emotional security, brain architecture, identity, and the capacity to form healthy relationships across a lifetime. During these early days, the infant’s brain is developing at a rapid and extraordinary pace. Millions of neural connections are formed every second, shaped directly by experiences of care, safety, and connection. Relationships become the environment in which the brain grows. An infant does not develop in isolation; their development is sculpted by how consistently their needs are met, how emotionally attuned caregivers are, and how safe their world feels. Infant mental health focuses on the social and emotional wellbeing of babies within the context of their relationships. It recognizes t...
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Mindfulness and Play—How Young Children Learn to Process Big Emotions

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  Mindfulness and Play—How Young Children Learn to Process Big Emotions Young children experience emotions with their whole bodies. Joy, fear, frustration, and sadness often arrive quickly and intensely, long before children have the words to explain what they are feeling. This is where mindfulness and play naturally come together. Play is a child’s first language. Through play, children rehearse experiences, express emotions, and make sense of their world. When mindfulness is woven into play—through slowing down, noticing sensations, naming feelings, and grounding in the present moment—it becomes a powerful therapeutic tool. In Mindful Beginnings , a cognitive therapeutic approach grounded in mindfulness and play, children are gently guided to identify and process emotions in developmentally appropriate ways. This is not about asking children to “calm down” or “use their words” before they are ready. It is about meeting them where they are and co-regulating alongside them. The ...
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Why Infant Mental Health Matters More Than We Think

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  Why Infant Mental Health Matters More Than We Think When we think about mental health, we often picture adolescents or adults navigating stress, anxiety, or depression. Rarely do we pause to consider that mental health begins at birth—or even before. And yet, infant mental health forms the foundation upon which all later emotional, relational, and cognitive development is built. Infant mental health is not about diagnosing babies. It is about understanding how early relationships, environments, and experiences shape a child’s sense of safety, trust, and connection. Infants learn about the world through their caregivers—through touch, voice, responsiveness, and presence. These early interactions quite literally shape the developing brain. With over 30 years of experience working alongside children and families, I have seen how early stress, unmet needs, and disrupted relationships can echo across childhood and into adulthood. I have also witnessed the remarkable healing that oc...
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Welcome to Awakening Now! Spirituality, Infant Mental Health, & Family Systems Oh My!!

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  Welcome to Awakening Now Awakening Now was created from a deep belief that healing, growth, and awareness are lifelong processes—and that the earliest relationships and experiences shape us in profound ways. This space exists to hold thoughtful conversation, reflection, and practical insight across the many layers that influence children, families, and the systems that surround them. With over 30 years of experience working with children and families , my work has consistently lived at the intersection of development, emotional health, mindfulness, and meaning-making. Throughout decades of supporting infants, children, caregivers, educators, and family systems, one truth has remained clear: when we slow down, listen deeply, and respond with intention, transformation becomes possible. This blog is an extension of that work. Here, you will find reflections and ideas spanning the full spectrum of infant and early childhood mental health , mindfulness practices for children and f...
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