In 1980 a dream was born, a dream in which there was a generation of children at peace with themselves and the world at large. A dream in which children were revered and looked upon as teachers in their own right. It started in a small town in Pennsylvania and has grown slowly but steadily, one child at a time. The dream, World Peace, the means to achieve it, Project E.A.S.E.!

I was working with the Head Start program in Pa. in the fall of 1980.Our center was part of a pilot program to teach relaxation techniques to three and four year olds. I thought, “These people are CRAZY!”. I felt that way because of what I thought “relaxation” meant. I THOUGHT it meant children being still and quiet. I soon found out my perception was wrong. We were trained and began teaching deep breathing/self-control activities. The methods used were concrete and meaningful to children. I moved from skeptical participant to firm believer.

Effective Anti-Stress Education is a preventative rather than reactive program. The goal is to give young children the skills needed to cope in an increasingly stressful time. Project E.A.S.E. is preventative rather than remedial. Children are provided direct instruction on a regular basis. Frequent exposure and repetition increases their knowledge, background and vocabulary for socially appropriate ways to deal with problem situations. This approach is in direct contrast to traditional classroom programs that wait until situations arise to teach children how to respond. Through participation in this program children learn to identify stress in themselves and others. They learn to identify situations which cause them stress and how to apply stress reduction techniques throughout the day. Children learn the skills necessary to control their bodies. This enables them to make their own choices and solve their own problems. Classroom behavior becomes student directed as opposed to teacher directed. When children share activities at home, traditional roles reverse. Children become teachers and parents become learners.

– Rita Eddy and Holly Caulfield