Connections for Kids is an educational approach designed to strengthen children’s social and emotional development through innovative, evidence-based practices.
About the Approach
The Connections for Kids approach brings together three evidence-based programs that:
- Promote supportive classroom environments.
- Enhance strong family engagement.
- Support positive educator well-being.
Why is it needed?
- Nebraska’s early childhood educators face growing demands with limited support.
- To better meet the needs of children and families, this critical workforce needs innovative tools and training, and a well-coordinated support system.
- Connections for Kids brings together proven programs into one streamlined approach to support educators, children and families.
Implementation Study
- Connections for Kids is being implemented in nearly 100 early childhood classrooms across Nebraska over two years.
- The TransformED team is exploring whether the approach makes a positive difference for educators, children and families — and how it compares to “business as usual” practices.
- Findings will help strengthen and refine the approach for future use.
Who is involved?
- The design team includes more than 20 trainers, teachers and developers representing the three aligned programs.
- Key partners include the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, Nebraska Extension’s early childhood team and other community programs.
- Study participants include nearly 100 early childhood educators and 288 children ages 3-5 in preschools across Nebraska.
Aligned Programs
Connections for Kids integrates the following widely used programs in Nebraska.
CHIME and Getting Ready were both developed at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
CHIME is a program designed to promote well-being among educators and children they serve by fostering a culture of mindfulness and reflection.
Pyramid, part of Rooted in Relationships, is a multi-tiered program that promotes responsive relationships and supportive classroom environments. It includes social and emotional teaching practices, as well as intensive, individualized interventions to address challenging behavior.
Getting Ready is a family engagement program that focuses on enhancing relationships within and between systems (i.e., homes, early childhood programs) and strengthening collaborative partnerships with parents to boost learning and development.
Shared Threads
Five shared threads or themes run through the CHIME, Pyramid and Getting Ready programs. These threads are woven throughout the Connections for Kids approach:
Partnerships with Families
Relationships with Children
Parent-Child, Educator-Child
Emotion Regulation
Acting & Planning
With Intention
Decision-Making
Using Information & Observation
Student Courses
Undergraduate students in all majors can enroll in Connections for Kids courses through UNL’s Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies. Participating students gain career-ready skills and earn certificates of completion for all three programs through five asynchronous online courses.
