"A Fighting Chance should be required reading for every early childhood educator! The book provides a clear description of the different types of disruptive change that children experience along with concrete strategies and resources that classroom teachers, administrators, and support staff can use to nurture resiliency and healthy child development. Humphries and Rains draw on their repertoire of real-life stories gleaned from years of experience working with children experiencing trauma and toxic stress. Their book provides a wealth of ideas and practical advice that will help early childhood professionals address the challenges young children face."
—Paula Jorde Bloom, PhD, Professor Emerita, Founder, McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership, National Louis University
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Dr. Jane Humphries and Kari Rains provided an excellent theoretical framework for working with children experiencing disruptive change. Their concrete and practical strategies for helping children to build essential life skills can be applied to many child care situations. As a child care trainer and technical assistance specialist, I know that I will frequently refer to this book for ideas and resources."
—Dianne Juhnke, MS Child Development, Director of CDSA Child Care Resource and Referral
"Through snapshots of disruptive change, and its detrimental effects on our children, we're reminded of the critical role early childhood teachers play. A Fighting Chance provides effective early care and education tools for professionals to integrate into their interactions, creating a safe, consistent place for children to learn and grow. This valuable resource will resonate with policymakers, early childhood professionals, and parents."
—Stacy Dykstra
“A Fighting Chance is a great addition to the trauma focused resources available for early childhood educators. By explaining the impact of trauma and stress, as well as providing practical ideas to support children in the classroom, this book provides guidance teachers need to restore function and build residency in children who suffer from challenging life experiences.”
—LaDonna Atkins, EdD, professor of child development, University of Central Oklahoma
“From the Introduction, the authors’ first-person account of their experience of the Oklahoma City bombing reveals their passion for guiding educators to help children and families deal with trauma and disruptive change. Infused with the basic tenets of high quality early education, their strategies guide the reader to apply the principles of best practice, current research, and social-emotional support. The case scenarios concretely illustrate the challenges for children and families brought on by disruptive change and the strategies adults can use in the classroom.”
—Deb Flis, Program Specialist with the Connecticut Accreditation Support Project
“The practical strategies offered are what early childhood teachers and administrators need when confronting difficult situations with children and their families. It’s refreshing to see a book that tackles the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of the messy, beautiful and complex world of early childhood care and education. A must-have for all ECE professionals!”
—Leslie E. Katch, PhD, professor of early childhood education, National Louis University
