Kōhuri Education Co.

Judy Hunter
Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist

Supporting educators to grow great humans

CONSULTATION + PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT + KAIAKO WELL-BEING

Kia ora! I’m Judy Hunter, Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist.

In 1997 I completed my Child Psychotherapy training and, since then, I've worked with hundreds of parents + educators supporting them to grow great humans.Spending large amounts of time with children being responsible for their mental health and well-being - as a parent, caregiver or educator - is hard. Wonderful and rewarding, yes. But also hard!I'm here to help ...

Nice things people have said

Your style, information, delivery and knowledge is outstanding. I would highly recommend your specialist input to anyone. I look forward to working with you again in the future.

- KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

Judy was so knowledgeable and was able to make the sessions fit in with the current needs we have at our kindergarten. She really listened to our concerns and offered valuable insight.

- ECE HEAD TEACHER

Guiding Principles

ATTACHMENT RELATIONSHIPSAs infants we learn how to be in relationships from the adults who care for us; these early relationships are the compass that guide us + often predict how we will operate in later relationships ourselves.

MINDFULNESS FOR CALM + CHANGEMindfulness is an ancient principle at the heart of health + well-being. Knowing how our brains work and how to calm ourselves at times of overwhelm is a source of strength + an agent for change.

NEUROSCIENCE + THE DEVELOPING BRAINChildren’s experiences in their early years have a lasting impact on their lifelong heath + well-being. It's not that everything needs to be perfect but knowledge about this formational period is key.

HUMANS ARE HARDWIRED TO CONNECTFeeling socially connected is good for our health: mental + physical. One scientist said: if there was a drug that did for our health what love does, it would far outsell any other drug ever made.

WHAT I OFFER

CONSULTATION

If you’re an ECE educator or team needing useable ideas, talk to me: an experienced Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist. The work I do - known as Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation - equips educators to fully support young children’s healthy social and emotional development using a reflective practice lens.

HOW IT WORKSEngage in a one-off or series of in-person or online consults. These are usually 60 minutes in length but can be adapted to suit your setting.In one session we’ll cover one important topic or, with a package of three (or more) sessions, we’ll have time to dig deeper and further build professional capacity + enhance best practice.Topics might include:

  • particular areas of child development like separation anxiety, toilet training or difficulty communicating;

  • child mental health + well-being concerns like poor emotion regulation, lack of resilience or finding it hard to get along with others;

  • challenges when working with young children, i.e. managing frequent tantrums, high levels of aggressive behaviour or the effects of trauma;

  • evidence-based, responsive caregiving ideas like building a secondary attachment relationship, helping fussy eaters + supporting transitions.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Grow your existing ECE knowledge + skills with a one-off or series of professional development sessions, flexibly delivered to suit your needs. I offer topics on a wide range of evidence-based information that can be put into practice straight away, including opportunities for reflective practice.

HOW IT WORKSChoose your topic(s) + book me in to deliver your 60 minute (or longer) in-person or online P.D.Sessions are delivered using a slideshow which you will receive a copy of, as well as a handout inviting you to reflect on what you have learnt + can put into practice.Suggested topics are listed below (+ email me for full details or for bespoke offerings):

  • Why It Starts with Us

  • The Circle of Security® model in ECE Settings

  • Trauma + the Developing Brain

  • Supporting Kids with Anxiety

  • Slowing Down Transitions

  • Know Your Own Story

  • All About Temperament

  • Organising Big Feelings

  • Growing a Resilient Child

  • The Power of Being Attuned

  • Being A Mindful Caregiver

  • Understanding + Guiding Toddler Behaviour

  • Getting Along with Others

  • Celebrating the Terrific Twos

  • Top Tips For Toddlers

  • Taking Care of You

  • The Wonders of the Developing Brain

  • Play is Powerful

  • The Dance of Infant Communication

  • The Science of Infant Sleep

KAIAKO WELL-BEING

When you work with young children, taking care of your own well-being is not a luxury, it’s a necessity - and preferably on a daily basis! I’ve spent years building knowledge + skills to support kaiako to learn about, practice and enhance their well-being: through self-care, mindfulness + other useable tools.

HOW IT WORKSContact me to arrange a one-off or series of 60 minute in-person or online kaiako well-being sessions.These sessions are choc full of up-to-date info covering the science of well-being, as well as practical tools to bring more calm into your life.Topics include:

  • Stress + The Brain

  • Choosing Optimism

  • Using The Breath

  • Thoughts, Feelings + Anxiety

  • Practicing Gratitude

  • Self-Talk Strategies

  • Being Too Busy

  • Self-Care

  • Grounding Techniques

  • Making Your Well-Being Plan

Nice things people have said

The tips Judy gave were easy to follow by teachers and could be implemented into our daily programme.

- KINDERGARTEN TEACHING TEAM

Judy offered insight into the ‘why’ of our child’s behaviour in a way which made complete sense.

- PARENTS OF THREE YEAR OLD

Why work with me?

Educators play a vital role in young children’s social-emotional development; necessary to succeed at school and in life. This important work should receive its own support to build professional capacity + enhance best practice.Kōhuri means ‘sapling’ in Māori. It symbolises growth and possibility - my offering to you. I develop and deliver evidence-based, responsive information and ideas for educators in a variety of engaging + accessible ways, empowering you to put this into practice.

Get in touch

hello@kohuri.co

CREDENTIALS

Registered Circle of Security® Facilitator
(Parenting + Classroom)Certified FAN (Facilitating Attuned Interactions) Master Trainer

Bachelor of Arts (Education): Otago UniversityPost-Graduate Diploma in Child Psychotherapy: Wellington School of Medicine, Otago University

Kōhuri Education Co. acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa New Zealand

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