The Guilford Fund for Education is thrilled to announce the Multisensory Activities for Mentors and Mentees grant for Guilford Youth Mentoring. This project aims to revolutionize mentorship by teaching adults how to meet children where they are at and build a toolbox for adaptability, regulation, and awareness.
In the past, many programs have adapted mature approaches to regulation for children, including breathing techniques, cognition, and communication-based strategies. However, it's essential to approach emotional regulation from the kid's perspective, leveraging gross motor play, active movement, and exploration of senses. Children are naturally programmed to seek out movement to build their body awareness, visual skills, and musculature.
The equipment provided by this grant, such as weighted balls, theraputty, and rocking chairs, will offer mentors unique opportunities to support kids' natural desire for movement-based play efficiently and safely. Teaching kids early on what kinds of input help support their brain and regulation will equip them with invaluable tools later in life for dealing with challenges and stress. The strategies taught to mentors are grounded in a neurosensory integrative approach to regulation and awareness.
We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lisa Ott and Emily Ott for pursuing your innovative ideas. Your passion for education and commitment to making a difference in the lives of students is truly inspiring. Together, we can create a brighter future for education. Thank you!
To continue to support educational grants like this in our Guilford schools, please
consider donating to the gffe.org/donate.  Or to learn more about all that we do, visit gffe.org/make-a-difference.