FocusedKids believes everyone should know how their brains work – especially children. We teach kids (starting in preschool) about three parts of the brain using puppets to represent each part. The puppets are very engaging and feel safe, as are the activities and stories used to teach children what happens in their brains. This information becomes tangible, making it easier for them to decide what they can do with complicated feelings and behaviors. With this skill, their growth and potential are limitless. Even four-year-olds can do this!
Check out one of our engaging calming exercises
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS
Bringing FocusedKids to the stage. Check out our play!
2013YEAR FOUNDED |
7814STUDENTS |
756PARENTS |
35COMMUNITY PARTNERS |
We are proud to partner with these schools to bring our model to classrooms preschool through fifth grade:
| Basalt Elementary School Basalt Middle School Black Mountain Elementary Blue Lake Preschool Carbondale Community School Children’s Mini College Child’s Play Preschool Colorado Rocky Mountain School Cornerstone Preschool Crystal River Elementary |
Desert Sun Academy Desert Willow Elementary Echo Mountain Primary School El Busesito Preschool Elk Creek Elementary Glenwood Springs Elementary Graham Mesa Elementary Horseshoe Trails Elementary Kathryn Senor Elementary Little Red Schoolhouse |
Lone Mountain Elementary Marble Charter School RE-1 Preschools RE-2 Preschools Riverview Elementary School Sopris Elementary School Two Rivers Community School Waldkinder Preschool Woody Creek Kids |
We provide regular in-person and online trainings to teachers, parents, and partner organizations:
| Aspen Community School Aspen Hope Center Aspen Science Center Basalt Regional Library CASA of the Ninth Early Childhood Network Family Resource Center |
First Friday Family Block Party FocusedKids Professional Development Series Headquarters Latino Family Outreach Learning with Love Pathfinders |
Pitkin County Library Raising a Reader SANA Summer Advantage TACAW Valley Settlement |
MISSION:
The FocusedKids mission is to partner with schools, families, and community organizations to make healthy brains a priority for our children. We are instilling mindful self-regulation skills and brain-building techniques into daily routines to increase resilience, self-awareness, and academic potential.
VISION:
To equip children and adults in their lives with the neurological wiring that promotes mental and physical well-being skills to last a lifetime.
VALUES:
– The path to health equity is achieved by supporting all ethnicities in building personal health and self-advocacy.
– Offer a program that is available to anyone at little cost.
THE PROBLEM:
Statistically, 35% of children in the United States face at least one kind of adversity: social media, trauma, bullying, mental health issues, isolation, school shootings, and poverty. Ongoing stress from adversity impacts children by diminishing brain functioning, causing poor problem-solving, complicated relationships, and reduced learning ability.
OUR GOAL:
FocusedKids' goal is to create a strong foundation for children to develop social-emotional health by wiring their brains early in life. When they learn how their brain works, they can use that knowledge to their advantage in everyday situations, strengthening the wiring through repeated practice.
BRIEF HISTORY:
FocusedKids began in 2013 as a pilot program at the Valley Settlement preschool in the Roaring Fork Valley in Colorado. Children at this school come from immigrant, Spanish-speaking families with parents who are often isolated, live in poverty, and have an average education of sixth-grade education. It was implemented to teach children about their brains, promote self-regulating strategies to increase school readiness, and practice healthy social-emotional skills.
Organization name
FocusedKids
other names
Focused Kids
2013
Tax id (EIN)
81-4090184
Category
Youth Development, Education, Mental Health & Crisis Intervention
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
140 RIVER OAKS LNEagle County, CO, US
Garfield County, CO, US
Pitkin County, CO, US