• Harvard Center on the Developing Child - developingchild.harvard.edu

“According to Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, early childhood experiences shape the architecture of the brain. Supportive environments and relationships promote resilience and healthy development.”

• Working Papers on Toxic Stress & Brain Architecture - https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources 

“Scientific papers from Harvard’s NSCDC highlight how toxic stress and lack of responsive caregiving can negatively alter gene expression and brain circuits.”

• Dr. Dan Siegel - The Whole-Brain Child - https://drdansiegel.com/books/the-whole-brain-child/ 

“Siegel’s work emphasizes how integrating different parts of the brain — especially emotion and logic — can help children self-regulate and thrive.”

• Dr. Bruce Perry - The Neurosequential Model - https://www.neurosequential.com

“Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model explains that healing from trauma begins with regulation and safety - only then can children access connection and cognition.”

• Bessel van der Kolk - The Body Keeps the Score - https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/resources/the-body-keeps-the-score 

“Trauma is stored in the body, not just in memory. van der Kolk’s research shows how sensory-based, non-verbal approaches can support recovery.”

• ACE Study - CDC (Adverse Childhood Experiences) - https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html 

“The CDC’s ACE study proved how adverse childhood experiences correlate with long-term mental and physical health outcomes — and why early intervention matters.”

• Perry & Winfrey - What Happened to You? - https://www.amazon.com/What-Happened-You-Understanding-Resilience/dp/1250223180 

“This book makes brain-based trauma insights accessible, showing how safe, patterned, and relational interactions help children feel secure again.”

• Dr. Stuart Brown - National Institute for Play - https://www.nifplay.org

“Dr. Brown’s research shows that play is not optional — it’s a biological necessity that supports emotion regulation, social skills, and brain development.”

• Alison Gopnik - The Gardener and the Carpenter - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/224374/the-gardener-and-the-carpenter-by-alison-gopnik/ 

“Gopnik argues that children learn best not through rigid instruction, but through open-ended, exploratory experiences — like imaginative play.”

• David Whitebread - The Importance of Play (Cambridge University) - https://www.importanceofplay.eu/IMG/pdf/dr_david_whitebread_-_the_importance_of_play.pdf 

“This Cambridge-led report demonstrates how play improves cognitive flexibility, emotional expression, and self-regulation — especially in early years.”

• Stephen Porges - Polyvagal Theory - https://www.stephenporges.com 

“Porges’ Polyvagal Theory explains how a sense of safety activates the social engagement system, allowing children to communicate, learn, and connect.”

• SPD Star Institute (Sensory Processing Disorder) - https://www.spdstar.org 

“Research from STAR Institute shows how sensory environments directly influence children’s emotional and behavioral regulation — especially those with processing difficulties.”