Christine, CYW | Founder
Why I Do This Work
Supporting children's emotional well-being and social development has been at the heart of my work for more than two decades.
As a Child and Youth Worker, I've had the opportunity to work alongside children and youth with diverse strengths, abilities, communication styles, and support needs.
What continues to inspire me is seeing what can happen when a child feels understood and is given the time, encouragement, and opportunity to develop a skill in a way that makes sense for them.
A newly learned strategy becomes something they use independently. A hesitant child begins participating. A child recognizes something they're good at. A social situation that once felt overwhelming begins to feel more manageable.
These experiences continue to shape both my work and Socially Connected Kids.
20+ Years of Experience
My professional background includes supporting children, youth, and families across school, community, and residential settings.
My current professional work is within an Autism Intensive Support Program, providing social-emotional and skill-development support within a classroom environment.
Much of my recent experience has focused on neurodivergent children, particularly children with autism and ADHD, along with children who have a range of learning and developmental needs.
This experience has deepened my understanding of self-regulation, emotional well-being, communication, social connection, and the importance of recognizing that children may experience and interact with the world differently.
Why I Created Socially Connected Kids
I created Socially Connected Kids because I wanted children to have a place where developing social and emotional skills could feel positive, purposeful, and enjoyable. A place where strengths are recognized, differences are respected, and children learn through meaningful, relatable experiences. Most importantly, I wanted to create opportunities for children to develop skills they can carry with them beyond a program and into their everyday lives.